by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
MASON CITY – Thursday morning, the new O’Reilly Auto Parts Store at 3583 4th St. SW, in Mason City, celebrated it’s Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a check presentation to Amanda Ragan.
“Every time we open a new store, we make a contribution to the community. We are issuing a check of $200 for the Community Kitchen and presenting it to Senator Amanda Ragan. The money is to help feed the hungry in Mason City,” said Scott Miller, Manager of the new store (pictured, below).
“It is always nice to see businesses expanding within Mason City,” said the Senator. “We are very thankful for the donation. Just last night we started adding another evening meal, for the community, during the week. This fall we hope to add another night and this money will help do that.”
O’Reilly’s Grand Opening is August 1st thru the 14th. The Store is offering many sales, that are honored at both locations, plus they have a drawing for a chance to win a $200 O’Reilly gift card. The store hours are Monday through Saturday, 7:30 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday’s 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. The new store’s phone number is (641) 423-0016.
A customer, Tanner Denny from Garner, came into O’Reilly’s and signed up. “It’s convenient, it’s the closest store to stop at.” He was there taking advantage of a couple sales going on.
Happyguy, do you think the multitude of freebies our area is offering is a draw to people from way outside our community/region? Do you know about that side of it too? Anyone that wants to volunteer and bring in a lot of social problems which, unfortunately, go hand in hand with homeless people, etc., also needs to volunteer with our city helping police the neighborhoods that are seeing increased crime and a decrease in safety, happiness and property values of their homes. Do you get that concept or are you so busy patting yourself on the back for volunteering that you can’t see that part? Who doesn’t volunteer and support good causes???? Get out of the kitchen you are volunteering in and talk to some of the people I know that are scared and sick of what’s happening here. I don’t see why it is fair to them to ruin their neighborhoods in the name of your good causes. The pendulum has swung too far in this community and what started out as a good cause in this city is turning into an industry with some bad consequences. Please just recognize that.
I am pretty sure all of the larger cities in Iowa and for that matter in the US offer these very same services for the poor and down and out populations. It is totally wrong for you to try and blame the problems of Mason City on the Community Kitchen or the Food Bank. If anything I would suggest that the sevices they offer help keep crime down. It stops a parent of hungry children from going out an stealing to feed them. It is ok if you want to sit at home and eat your 3 meals and your snacks all day while there are good people in the North Iowa area who are going hungry. You ask “Who doesn’t volunteer and support good causes????”. My guess would be people like you. For most, like you, it is easy to sit back and criticise the efforts of others to make North Iowa a better place, than it is to pitch in and actually help North Iowa become a better place. Helping to feed hungry families does make North Iowa a better place to live, So again if you are looking to blame feeding the hungry as the root of the crimes in Mason City…you are delusional.
Also by your logic there should be no charities. No help for the hungry. No help for the homeless. No help for the poor. No help for the sick. No help for the mentally challanged. No help for the helpless children. Everyone must make it on their own or dye? What a cold heartless attitude.
How many evening meals will that make for the community kitchen? 3? And in the Fall 4?
Good with free meals both day and night that ought to bring some new recruits to our city that rely on welfare. We have the Food Harvest Bank, they pick up their own food and make it. We have meals on Wheels to deliver food to shut ins. Those two programs are great and needed. A community our size has no business expanding a food kitchen like this, we are not Chicago or St. Louis, but we could be if Amanda Ragan has her way. What is this Senator doing to this community? God help us all.
You have got to be kidding. The Community Kitchen does so much good and fills a real need in Mason City. Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank gives you enough food to feed you for 3 days per person in your household You can only go there 4 times in a 6 month period. So that is food for 12 days in 180 days. You have to pay for meals on wheels and that is a lunch meal Monday thru Friday (no holidays) one meal per day. There are so many people in need in North Iowa. There are a few that take advantage of the free food, but most are in true need. I know because I have volunteered at both Com. Kitch and the food bank. My shut in father-in-law had meals on wheels for several years. I know what I am talking about. Before you make such a negitive statement about Amanda Reagan and the Community Kitchen go their and do some volunteer work. You will see first hand the need it fills and the good she does for North Iowa.
Good luck with the new store. It’s nice seeing businesses giving back to the community.