Over recent weeks, all of us have seen significant changes at our local grocery stores. With “insider” knowledge and experience, although the Co-op, Gene’s and Johnson’s have different procedures reflecting their specific physical plant and needs, all three have, “stepped up to the plate,” to fill our orders and keep the public, volunteers, and employees safe. Safety measures have evolved with the spread of COVID-19, the Governor’s Stay at Home order, as well as our understanding of our own local health care system’s capacity, and a better understanding of how to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Andrea Orest, in coordination with Minnesota Responds, has coordinated volunteers to assist at all three stores, in order to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 in three of the busiest locations in Cook County.
Most volunteers work as shoppers, filling customer orders, while at the Co-op volunteers notify staff of who has arrived to pick up their orders, and then once the order is brought to a table by their rear door, the bags and/or boxes are deposited in a trunk or back seat. A few volunteers help deliver groceries to those that are homebound in Grand Marais. Volunteers don gloves and masks; the length of their volunteer shifts vary from site to site and week to week.
In addition to the gloves and masks, there are 6’ taped distances marked in places where volunteers and staff might come in close proximity. Signs are also posted to remind everyone of the need for social distancing.
Ordering is done via email or phone at all three sites; keep in mind Facebook is NOT USED for orders. To pay for an order, have your credit or debit card number and expiration date ready when called and told your order is ready.
WIC and SNAP benefits are available; make sure that is noted when you place your order. Lastly, it is helpful if you indicate, whenever possible, that substitutions are ok, as the availability and supply of particular items is quite limited.
Obviously if you have a food allergy, for example, indicate that and when ordering make it known substitutions are NOT ok, due to that situation.
It takes some time to process orders, so sending your order a few hours in advance (or even the night before), is helpful. You will be called and told when your order is ready. Please understand volunteers are calling you back on their personal cell phones, so the call may show a “blocked” phone number when you are being notified your order is completed and can be picked up. Until you arrive to pick up your groceries, freezer items are kept in the freezer, cooler items are kept chilled for you; only “shelf stable” items are left in a bag on a table.
Depending on the grocery store, orders are organized by name, phone number, and/or order number. Thanks for being patient with volunteers and grocery store staff, as they work hard to fill your orders as best possible, get them to you, and do all this in a timely and safe fashion. A BIG THANKS to not only the staff and volunteers of our local grocery stores, but the truck drivers, suppliers, and manufacturers who are keeping us fed during this pandemic.
Johnson’s Foods: 218-387-2480 or 218- 387-2819 johnsons@qwestoffice.net
Delivery Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Gene’s IGA: 218-387-1212 genesfoods@gmail.com
Delivery Wednesday and Saturday.
Cook County Whole Foods Co-op: 218-387-2503 customerservice@cookcounty.coop
Delivery Tuesday and Friday.
If you are willing to volunteer to help these grocery stores fill orders, help with curbside pickup or make deliveries, please sign up online at mnresponds.org.
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