Wow, that didn’t take long. Even though the new Meijer superstore located along U.S. 41 in Marquette Township won’t officially open until late spring or early summer, officials there are already plowing into community service.

It came in the form of a significant cash donation — $6,500 to be exact — to the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association.

The store, which will feature a deli, bakery, fresh produce, a full-service meat counter, grocery items, a walk-in beer cooler, as well as a pharmacy, garden center, home goods, clothing and a large selection of pet supplies, among other things, will approach 200,000 square feet and employ upwards of 300 people.

“We’re here to support the community,” John Spaulding, Meijer store director, said on the occasion last week of presenting a check to UPSDA officials. “We’re excited, really excited to open our third store in the U.P., being a Michigan-branded company. Today is a special event, honestly, because part of our philosophy is … to give back.”

Meijer joins a large number of businesses that support the U.P. 200 and associated races and activities and, by extension, a wide variety of activities in the area.

We applaud them for boldly taking that first step. It was a wonderful, and important, gesture.