The heart of our community By Dan Gile G&W Foods of Iola
The holiday season always seems to give us a
sense of family and community. Local charities, churches and organizations come together for a larger purpose. Families gather to celebrate, passing on their traditions from one generation to the next.
living history. Customers get excited about telling them as much as I enjoy listening. The grocery store is a place where everyone feels welcome. Regardless of status, class or profession, everyone comes to the store. They visit, sharing stories about their children, school or community events. As the holidays bring back children who have left for college or to start their own adventures, it is exciting to see them come to the store with their parents. There are few places in the community where you can reminisce with a classmate from 20 years ago or a friend you just met. The joy, the smiles and the excitement I see this time of year help remind me what the holiday spirit feels like. Come visit your local grocery store, browse photos of yesteryear, share stories of your childhood, and find what you need to make the holidays extra special this year. And let us all remember that “Home for the Holidays” is more than just a saying. Its truth depends on the community we develop and the relationships we build.
There are three sureties of almost every community: the hospital, school and the grocery store. At the heart of the community lies the grocery store. The store is where the community comes to get essential products, but it is more than that. They come to experience a warm and From our G&W Foods family to yours, may you welcoming environment. have a great holiday season. In years past, Iola has had as many as half a dozen grocery stores at once. Not that I was alive to witness this. These are stories I hear from my “Iola family” while shopping—glimpses of the past told by those who lived it. Everyone knew their local butcher’s name, and in return he would know just how to cut your steak. Almost everyone I visit with has a story about a grocery store. For some, their grandparents owned one. For others, it was their first job. These stories are 14 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS • 2021
