Seniors and those with compromised immune systems will be able to do in-store shopping at one local grocery store, minus the throngs of people seen elsewhere.
Meridian Meats will be open solely for those two groups during their first hour of business from Tuesday to Thursday, as the COVID-19 crisis continues.
There were 28 people who took advantage of the shopping time on Tuesday, the first day the time was open to them. Those who couldn鈥檛 get in right away waited patiently in their cars.
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Josh Penner, owner of the grocery chain, can鈥檛 believe the positive response he has received since he put out the word.
鈥淚t was made abundantly clear to us that this is important to a lot of people,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people that are very concerned about going out of their homes to go shopping because they have either a suppressed immune system or they鈥檙e elderly and they know they are at highest risk,鈥� noted Penner, adding that it really speaks volumes to the stress people are feeling.
Penner said it was his wife who made the suggestion.
鈥淪he said we have to do something to help these people that are in this situation,鈥� said Penner, who himself has grandparents that he is worried about in their 90鈥檚.
A lot of seniors are not comfortable using technology, so ordering online might not be something they prefer to do and when it comes to fresh foods, said Penner, people want to choose them.
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Shelves at the Maple Ridge store have remained at around 85 per cent stocked a majority of the time and Penner doesn鈥檛 anticipate that supply is going to be an issue, although, he said, they are monitoring the situation closely.
His staff are also making sure they are looking after their own hygiene and health. If they are not feeling well, they don鈥檛 come into work.
Anyone who either develops a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if they have to quarantine for any reason as a result of COVID-19, Penner will be covering their wages during their time off.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want it to come down to a financial choice because you are putting the public and the individual at risk,鈥� he said.
Penner said his staff won鈥檛 be policing individuals at the door. He doesn鈥檛 want anyone feeling that they have to show proof of their health circumstances or their age.
But, he is hoping that the rest of the community will help support these individuals who feel more at risk of getting the virus and give them that space during that hour.
Meridian Meats will be open for seniors and those with suppressed immune systems from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday to Thursday at 11980 227 St. in Maple Ridge, at 7221 Park Street in Mission, 1449 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, and 1202A 56 Street in Tsawwassen. The store will be open 9 to 10 a.m. those same days at unit 108 鈥� 2020 Oxford Connector in Port Coquitlam, unit 190 鈥� 20330 88 Avenue in 91原创, and unit 935 鈥� 15355 24 Avenue in White Rock.
cflanagan@mapleridgenews.com
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