We have a very serious responsibility to our customers, and if we can’t serve them and the community, we are in trouble. George Fraser

Dan & Whit’s has always been at the center of the community. Just about everyone gives directions beginning with “From Dan & Whit’s you go….” But being at the center of the community goes deeper than that.

Over the years the phone has rung with people reporting fires, asking where ancestors are buried, or seeking advice on jump-starting a car. Teens have called home to tell parents their plans, parents have called home for reminders of what to buy.

It has been a rite of passage for Norwich kids to work after school, obeying Dan Fraser’s Golden Rule:

You remember, that customer you’re waiting on is responsible for your paycheck. You pack those groceries right, you carry them out, you treat that customer right.

For many of the kids, this was their first job. The Frasers have helped students manage their schoolwork, supported them in getting back on track after drifting into trouble, and taught them how to be good employees.

It was not just hard work at the center of Dan & Whit’s, but also kindness. Dan was known to give store credit to those who were having hard times or ‘float’ them for awhile until they got back on their feet. They allowed people to pay their bills by trading firewood as payment.

They have allowed the Lions Club fair use of their freezers and have provided food for volunteer picnics. In recent years, the store has donated 1 percent of sales to help the Upper Valley Haven’s food shelf. The 19-Days of Norwich, as it is now called, has raised thousands of dollars and thousands of pounds of food. Wine tastings, round-ups, and other acts of generosity have benefited all.