DESOTO, Ill. – The Southern Illinoisan reports that the 4-Way Quik Stop and the Jackson County Health Department are teaming up to bring healthy foods to the community.

Melissa Parsons, owner of the convenience store with her husband, Tim, told the news source that entering a partnership with the health department was an easy decision, noting that caring about the community and the people they serve is part of being a responsible business owner.

“The 4-Way is such a local hangout,” she said. “I thought it would be a way to give back because [our customers] give us so much by patronizing our place. If we can do something to help, that would be good. And I’m a health nut anyway,” she added.

Parsons said customers often stop by the store for last-minute meal ideas, and the closest grocery store is about 15 minutes away. Some families also lack reliable transportation or can’t afford the gas.

The store already carries some healthy meal options, such as a fresh deli, and a small selection of fresh vegetables, but Parsons said she’s excited to add even more better-for-you solutions with help from the local health department. 

The news source writes that the partnership will bring more fresh and healthy food options to the convenience store through a Plan4Health grant. Angie Kuehl, a Plan4Health educator, commented that the county health department and its student interns conducted extensive research on the types of foods customers would like to see in the convenience store, and what they’re likely to purchase. According to survey results, customers indicated they are highly interested in quick access to items such as salads and containers of ready-made chicken salad, ideal for grab-and-go lunches or for dinner between grocery store runs.

“We’re not going on a hope and a whim here,” Kuehl told the news source. “We’re looking at it from a comprehensive approach using actual information from the customers.” With the research in hand, the Parsons can decide which food items they want to stock, based on their business model, and the health department will provide additional marketing support.

At the end of the day, Kuehl noted, it’s not enough just to tell people they should eat healthier. “We’ve got actual data that says this is a good business opportunity that’s also good for the community,” she told the news source.