Two Fort Dodge families that operate thriving businesses which provide jobs for many of their neighbors have recently come through for the community again in very different ways.

The Decker family, owner of of Decker Truck Line Inc., has contributed $15,000 to food pantries helping people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Johnson family, which owns Fort Dodge Ford Toyota, rescued a car cruise that has been a cherished special event for 40 years in Fort Dodge.

Both of these selfless actions came to light within 48 hours of each other last week.

The Deckers — Don, Dianne, Dale and Ashley — used the Decker Charitable Fund to make the donations. Of the total amount donated, $10,000 is going to support The Lord’s Cupboard and the Upper Des Moines Opportunity Inc. drive-thru food pantry, both in Fort Dodge.

Another $2,500 each is going to food pantries in Missoula, Montana, and Bessemer, Alabama. There are Decker Truck Line Inc. terminals in both of those communities.

The Johnsons — Casey, Deb, Matt, Abigail and Nick — stepped in when they learned that the Ja-Mar Cruise Nights were apparently doomed.

The cruises brought up to 500 vehicles to the Ja-Mar Drive-In Restaurant on the first Fridays of June, July and August. Those vehicles parked on land that will soon be the site of construction as the new owners of Crossroads Mall redevelop the site. Jerry Jordison, who owns the restaurant, knew that was going to happen, but he hoped to at least have the June cruise as a last hurrah. However, that had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced that the cruise night tradition had ended. Then the Johnsons stepped in.

The people of Fort Dodge should be pleased to have two such community-minded family businesses in their city.