Being the heart of the community takes on a deeper meaning at this time of year, as the fall and winter holidays traditionally center around the family table, and independent grocers bear a great responsibility in helping folks fill that table.
This year, as Thanksgiving approaches, we should pause to consider our fellow Americans impacted by recent natural disasters.
Certainly, folks in the southern and eastern United States have many things weighing on their minds as the seasonal holidays approach, from those giving thanks for emerging from the maelstrom unscathed, to others with damaged or lost homes, to those who’ve lost family and friends.
To be sure, independent grocers have demonstrated their strength and resilience in times of crisis, and natural disasters historically have been a call to action for them, even for those not directly impacted.
For example, SpartanNash donated four truckloads of water for victims of Hurricane Helene in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. In partnership with Convoy of Hope, the company at press time was poised to distribute 5,000 personal hygiene toiletry kits and a half-million meals.
SpartanNash, based in Michigan, uses its large distribution network and food logistics expertise to provide aid when and where it is most needed. (And with Hurricane Milton looming at the time of this writing, the need is sure to be great.)
[RELATED: How Grocers Are Preparing For The Thanksgiving Holiday]
Meanwhile, despite being in the path of Helene, North Carolina-based Lowes Foods pledged to “keep the doors open and lights on as long as possible to support our neighbors.”
And when Hurricane Francine struck earlier in September, Rouses Markets in Louisiana declared its stores to be the last to close and the first to reopen, in order to maximize service to its communities.
Rural areas with limited services, where many IGA member stores are located, have been particularly hard hit, with dozens of independent grocers impacted by Helene’s wrath. So many of these small-town operators exhibit grit and determination when disaster strikes, rallying their communities to help though they may themselves be in dire straits.
Remember Gwen Christon, the IGA owner in Isom, Kentucky? Her store was destroyed by a massive flood in July 2022. However, Gwen and her family still helped organize relief efforts for their neighbors, who rallied around the town’s only grocery store, which has since been rebuilt.
At so many times, in so many places, independent grocers go far beyond their commitment to their communities, both when times are good and when they present seemingly insurmountable challenges. It’s that commitment and determination that begets loyalty, and it’s something that retailers and consumers can be thankful for as 2024 comes to a close and we look ahead to the new year.
