The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to extend beyond the toll of deaths and illnesses. The virus has also infected the American economy, throwing millions out of work and leaving millions more with smaller paychecks due to reduced working hours.

There are people in the Fort Dodge area who are among those out of work or struggling to make ends meet on smaller paychecks.

Fareway has stepped up to help again.

Fareway, which has a supermarket at First Avenue South and 12th Street, gave $1,000 worth of gift cards to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance in May 2020. The Growth Alliance then distributed them to small businesses that are alliance members forced by the pandemic to close or significantly change their day-to-day operations. Leaders of those businesses decided how to allocate the cards.

Last week, Fareway expanded on that effort by giving $4,000 worth of gift cards to the Growth Alliance to be distributed to businesses.

”In an effort to help support local businesses, we are partnering with the Growth Alliance to provide gift cards to local small business owners,” Chris Palm, manager of the Fort Dodge Fareway store, told The Messenger. ”This is a way to help small businesses that have had to shut down or there’s been reduced hours. Being an essential business, we are fortunate that we get to stay open and take care of everybody.”

Throughout the pandemic, Fareway and its employees have been steadfast in providing an essential service – supplying food and other necessities. Store leaders have even tweaked the schedule to provide a time for senior citizens and those with disabilities to shop without having to encounter a lot of people who may or may not be carrying the virus.

With this latest donation of gift cards, Fareway has once again proven itself to be an exemplary corporate citizen.