Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
“Dear PoPville,
I am a first responder directly supporting our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I work 12-14 hour shifts, including overnights and on weekends and holidays, which leaves me precious little time to go shopping and run errands. The recent reduction in the opening hours of many grocery and big box stores has only exacerbated this situation for healthcare workers, first responders, emergency managers and other essential personnel like me.
Stores that may remain open only an hour or so after the end of our shifts often have long lines that we cannot afford to wait in due to our need for 6 hours of rest before the next shift, and the stores are already picked through leaving virtually no stock of certain staples and supplies for us should we fortunate to make it inside before closing time. Online shopping is not an option with no delivery windows available outside of my working hours.
I know Costco allows healthcare workers and first responders to skip the line, but I am not a member of any membership club big box stores. Some grocery stores have senior hours, but nothing to accommodate essential workers. I’ve enquired with Trader Joe’s down the street from me and there have no such plan. And with the long hours that I’ve been working, I’ve honestly lost track of what’s open and what’s not anymore at certain times.
My question is, is there a list that could be compiled of stores – either chains or neighborhood markets – that have special hours or head-of-line privileges to accommodate healthcare workers, first responders, emergency managers and other essential personnel; or, if not, could PoPville crowdsource such a list and maintain it for the community?“