After reading Earline Byers newspaper column regarding the closing of our QFC Market on the 25th of this month I felt as she does, that we are losing the basic foundation of any small city, their only grocery store in downtown.

When we first moved to Des Moines in 1960 there were three fine markets, two in downtown and one on Highway 99 and Kent Des Moines Road. They were always busy and gave families good choices to shop for their everyday needs.

I do realize things and times change over many years but people still need a good store to shop and don’t always have transportation to get to the nearest one.

It’s a shame that Kroger decided to close this particular store, as there will be many who do not drive or have transportation to the remaining markets in the area. I have seen vans with folks from the nursing/assisted living homes dropping people off to buy the few items they may need. Now those vans will need to spend more gas money and time to accommodate these people.

Also, I well remember the nice day-old foods QFC used to donate to our local food bank when I worked there, and how grateful we felt, especially those weeks when other donations were down.

I want to tell the fine folks who work for QFC how much they will be missed by their neighbors and the friends they have made over the years. I hope they will all be happy in their new work places.

Good luck and God bless each of you as you start a new chapter n your life journey.

Judy Mannard
Des Moines