CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Weeks after an Aldi store closed in West Garfield Park, volunteers returned to the site Saturday to give away groceries.
Members of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative handed out 250 boxes of food including carrots and chicken outside the boarded up Aldi near Madison and Hamlin. Some people waited hours for the donation.
Dr. David Ansell, senior vice president for community health equity at Rush University Medical Center told CBS 2 he’s angry with Aldi for pulling out.
“This Aldi’s been here since as long as I’ve been here, and to see it just go away is definitely devastating, especially for the community," he said.
Residents in that area have to travel almost a mile to the nearest grocery store, so the Garfield Park Rite To Wellness Collaborative held its first grocery giveaway. Warren Gardner lives across the street from the boarded up store.
“I got carrots, I got some good vegetables, I love vegetables,” he said sifting through his bags. “A big ole chicken! That’s even better.”
Aldi said through a spokesperson they took the decision very seriously and made it based on consistently declining sales while operating the location at a loss for several years. The collaborative has more food giveaways planned over the next two months.
Related
