Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx grocery stores will open their doors one hour early and one hour later for first responders starting on Thursday, according to store officials.
The Modesto-based Save Mart Companies with 205 stores across California and northern Nevada will open early and later for police, fire and health care personnel during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“We want to give thanks to the dedicated, hardworking first responders throughout all our communities working the front lines during these extraordinary times,” Hal Levitt, Senior Vice President of Retail Operations for Save Mart Companies said in a statement. “Medical, law and fire personnel are putting their lives on the line during this pandemic and we want to thank them and make their lives a little easier by extending these special dedicated shopping hours to them.”
The idea, Levitt said, came from conversations with local and regional first responders due to the impact of the pandemic on their schedules.
The company last week announced dedicated shopping hours for seniors and vulnerable populations every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Good! Our medical and first responders need all the help they can get. It would also be nice if delivery were included since these folks may be coming home exhausted.
I’m all for helping out the first responders and the seniors. I think the new hours should be changed. The first responders have a increased chance of being exposed to the coronavirus. If the store is deep cleaned overnight the first responders come in first then followed by the most vulnerable seniors. This might also put them in the store at the same time. Maybe allow the seniors in first on Tues and Thurs.
I personally don’t believe this is a good idea. We should be minimizing exposing seniors to first responders as much as possible unless the seniors are sick. Due to first responders being on the frontine they are at higher risk of contracting covid19 and we do not want them shopping at the same time or near when seniors are shopping. We should give first responders curbside pickup options instead.
I went out yesterday after sheltering in place for 19 days. A HUGE thank you to AAA for picking up my car with a flatbed and taking it to Big O Tires at 3572 Clayton Rd, Concord, CA 94519 where my tire was fixed by such kind people, gratis. I now know that I could have been one of those one-car serious accident statistics from driving through a freeway construction zone on 3.14. I took my first–and last for a long time–time out to stop at a few stores to stock my home with cleaning and medical supplies and fresh foods. I thanked each worker in the stores for their bravery and commitment to support our community. THEY are the ones who will be staffing the stores in those earlier hours for OTHER heroes. THANK YOU ALL. See you on the other side of the pandemic