From personalized and engraved gifts to unique ideas for the toughest to shop for, check out the Indianola Chamber Gift Guide for ideas this shopping season.

Click here for help selecting the perfect gift.

Businesses – click here to submit your gift ideas for the Guide.

We are so thankful that you #ThinkIndianolaFirst when making your purchasing decisions.

Order your holiday collectible from Bob's Custom Trophies!

A sponsor of the National Balloon Classic, owners Eric and Leslie Held designed a 2020 ornament to symbolize a year we will never forget. The 3-inch crystal ornament is $17 + shipping.

To order, email Leslie - leslie@bobscustomtrophies.com or call (515) 961-7342.

Take a moment to reflect on 2020 and check off this 10-step review:

1. Review last year’s revenue goals:

Many business owners start the year by establishing revenue goals. They also review those goals every quarter to determine how they are tracking toward them, so going into the last quarter of the year they have a pretty good idea of whether or not they are on track or are lagging. With less than a month to go, it’s a good time to take one last look to determine if you’re on track, need to adjust, or are within sight of your goals with a little push.
 

Hey fellas, they're hosting a shopping night just for you!

Stop by Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. and let us help you find the perfect gift for all the special ladies (wife, mom, sister, niece... we got you) on your list. We'll have burgers, beer and personal shoppers to help you out making it easy and fun! 

Catch Des Moines has worked with regional partners to launch the Stay Safe Pledge. The pledge is intended for area businesses and patrons to demonstrate their commitment to health and safety during the pandemic. The pledge includes tangible steps that both companies and patrons will take, such as wellness screenings, face coverings and social distancing.

Take the pledge.

Come and ask why Vintage Hills of Indianola is your best option for assisted living and memory care!

When: Thursday, Dec. 31, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Vintage Hills Of Indianola

RSVP to Danyel by Monday, Dec. 28, to place your order for a famous Crouse Cafe apple, cherry or peach pie at (515) 442-8102.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be Odds & Ends on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Bring in your little ones to chat with Santa and get a candy cane for Mrs. Claus!

Charlotte's Kitchen at West Hill Brewing Company
12/17/2020
05:00 PM - 07:30 PM C
West Hill Brewing Company
219 West Salem
Indianola, IA 50125

Holiday After Hours - Shop Local Thursday Nights in Indianola
12/17/2020
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM C
Indianola, IA 50125

Wise-Men Shop at Feed & Foster + Adorn
12/17/2020
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM C
Feed + Foster
103 North Buxton Indianola, IA 50125
Indianola, IA 50125

Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Merry & Bright Holiday Concert Online
12/18/2020- 12/31/2020 C
Indianola Chamber of Commerce
111 N. Buxton, Suite 117
Indianola, IA 50125

Summerset Winery Craft Shows
12/19/2020
10:00 AM - 05:00 PM C
Summerset Winery
15101 Fairfax
Indianola, IA 50125

Roadside Tacos at West Hill Brewing Company
12/19/2020
05:00 PM - 08:30 PM C
West Hill Brewing Company
219 West Salem
Indianola, IA 50125

Trivia Night at The Local Vine ... and on Zoom!
12/19/2020 C
The Local Vne
126 West Ashland
Indianola, IA 50125

Summerset Winery Craft Shows
12/20/2020
10:00 AM - 05:00 PM C
Summerset Winery
15101 Fairfax
Indianola, IA 50125

Ugly Sweater Night at West Hill Brewing
12/23/2020
04:00 PM - 10:00 PM C
West Hill Brewing Company
219 West Salem
Indianola, IA 50125

Charlotte's Kitchen at West Hill Brewing Company
12/24/2020
05:00 PM - 07:30 PM C
West Hill Brewing Company
219 West Salem
Indianola, IA 50125

Holiday After Hours - Shop Local Thursday Nights in Indianola
12/24/2020
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM C
Indianola, IA 50125

Become a Phlebotomist. Session starts January 4
01/04/2021 C
KW School of Phlobotomy
310 N. Howard
Indianola, IA 50125

We have a wonderful gift for our small businesses that have been hit hard by COVID-19!  Fareway Stores has given the Indianola Chamber 40 $50 gift cards for Chamber businesses to recognize and thank them for serving our local community. 

To help us distribute these cards, please send an email to barb@indianolachamber.com if your business or a business you know falls into one of these categories:

If we receive more responses than gift cards, we will pull recipient’s names from a hat from category 1, followed by category 2 and so on until all cards are distributed. Below are the categories:

• Small owner/operator businesses, self-employed individuals, or independent contractors where the business income is the sole or primary income.
• Small businesses with 5 or fewer employees who have been impacted by the COVID 19 crisis.  The employer will identify who will receive gift cards.
• Small businesses who have been impacted by the COVID 19 crisis regardless of size. The employer will identify who will receive gift cards.

Please send an email to barb@indianolachamber.com with the name, email and phone number, and which category (1, 2 or 3) the business falls in.  We want to get them to businesses and potentially their employees as soon as possible!

We appreciate Fareway's support of our local businesses!

#SupportLocal #ThinkIndianolaFirst #IAChamberStrong #FarewayShopsLocal #Leadwithlove

About 450 children chatted with Santa at the first ever Drive-Thru Santa. The weather was delightful and Mr. and Mrs. Claus had a steady line of cars for the duration of the event.

THANK YOU to McCoy True Value for hosting the event and TruBank for sponsoring Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

The Noon Lions Club, with the help of FFA members, took in 7 shopping carts of food for Helping Hand of Warren County and $404 in cash. McCoy True Value stepped up to match that amount, tallying the final monetary donation to Helping Hand at $825.

It's because of business support that these events are so successful. Thank you all for spreading the word, volunteering and attending this new event. It was a huge success.

 

Click here to register NOW!

Please continue to check the Hub on Indianola Chamber Facebook for the latest on shopping news from Indianola businesses. Have a business, community or social event you want people to know about? Share it there!

Des Moines Metro Opera's inaugural virtual holiday program, the Merry & Bright Holiday Concert, premieres Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. The online program features performances by current and former DMMO artists.

Tickets for the Merry & Bright concert and reception are $50 per screen. The Holiday Cheer Package is $50 (includes enough goodies for up to 2 individuals). Tickets can be ordered online at desmoinesmetroopera.org/holiday or by calling the DMMO Box Office at (515) 961-6221.

Purchase sponsorships and tickets TODAY!
Click here!

This year, Vintage Hills is doing a Festival of Wreaths. Proceeds from this auction will be donated to Kiya Koda Humane Society and The Helping Hand Food Pantry!

Visit the Vintage Hills Facebook Page to view the wreaths. All wreaths were donated and have a starting bid of $20.

To place a bid on your favorite wreath, email Danyel Wilson at dwilso19@fairview.org. She will update the current bid by commenting on each individual wreath photo. Bidding ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20.
 

Thank you to all our members who contributed to Operation Christmas and the Indianola Tour of Homes' tree giveaway.

Operation Christmas raised over $54,000 thanks to many generous donors. Parents were able to pick up vouchers at Walmart to choose gifts for more than 600 local children. Almost 1,000 people benefited at Helping Hand of Warren County from gift cards for a holiday mean from Fareway, as well.

The Indianola Tour of Homes delivered 25 Christmas trees to families and organizations from Indianola. A big thank you to Diane Fry and Jane Rosenberger from Katana donated the money to purchase the trees and also to the businesses, organizations and families who decorated them. Indianola Tour of Homes worked with The Helping Hand of Warren County and Operation Christmas in order to provide these trees to those that might not have had a tree this year.

It's been a tough year for so many and it's movements like these that really bring the joy to our community. Well done!

Simpson College president Marsha Kelliher announced Tuesday the hiring of Marty Bell as the College’s next director of athletics. Bell comes to Simpson from Quincy University, where he led the institution’s NCAA Division II athletic program for more than a decade.

Bell will be introduced to the campus community Jan. 4, 2021. Bell’s hiring comes following a two-month search process. He takes over for Keith Hackett, who served as interim athletics director since August 2020.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

And because cheer is the only thing they want to spread, they’re inviting you to enjoy our First UMC carolers from the safety and comfort of your vehicle.

Grab your cocoa, buckle the family in and come find our singers gathered outside under the south awning of the church. Pull on through and enjoy some merry tunes while picking up your family’s Christmas Eve Connection Bag. What’s that, you say? Within you’ll find a few things to keep us connected while we worship online Christmas Eve, a pair of candles, kids’ activities, worship info, a Christmas card and more! 

Indianola Parks and Recreation is offering free virtual yoga classes on Mondays & Fridays at 8 a.m. If that time doesn't work for you, you can watch at your convenience! We're thankful for our volunteer instructors, Pam Zimmerman and Joyce Nerhring, and their willingness to record these sessions while we can't meet in person.