Q: Is the Co-op planning on offering a Senior-only shopping time?
A: We take the well-being of our senior customers very seriously. In our management meetings we have discussed the idea of setting up a dedicated shopping time for seniors, but we decided that for the health and safety of our older and vulnerable customers it would be dangerous and inappropriate to encourage elderly people to congregate in our store.
If you or someone you know needs help with shopping, please reach out to bcolpitts@littletoncoop.org. Our Community Outreach Coordinator, Becky Colpitts, can try to put you in touch with community resources for volunteers and services. You can also contact the 211 hotline for Granite State United Way to find assistance.
Q: Can the Co-op offer pick-up, delivery, or curbside service?
A: We now offer a Curbside Pickup service for seniors, people who are highly vulnerable to COVID 19, or people who are sick and staying isolated. You may place an order online or by phone, and come pick your order up outside of the store.
Again, if you or someone you know needs help with shopping, please reach out to bcolpitts@littletoncoop.org. Our Community Outreach Coordinator, Becky Colpitts, can try to put you in touch with community resources for volunteers and services. You can also contact the 211 hotline for Granite State United Way to find assistance.
Q: Are you limiting the number of customers in the store?
A: We’re limiting the number of shopping carts that are available at the store entry area, thereby limiting the number of customers in the store at any given time. We count the number of shoppers in the store at frequently throughout the day to monitor capacity. We’re also restricting our entrance and exit areas so they are one-way.
Please help us reduce traffic in the store by shopping alone. Leave your children at home if you are able to do so, and refrain from bringing your spouse or family members with you.
Q: Can you make the aisles one-way?
A: We’ve talked about that option extensively with our staff and managers, and we decided it’s not a good fit for the store at this time. The consensus among our staff is that it’s much quicker to skip the busy aisles and loop around to come back. If we set up traffic rules not only would we have a difficult time enforcing them, but it would also cause major backups and pinch points. Our Co-op has many narrow corners and differently-facing aisles, so letting shoppers choose the path of least resistance will allow for a quicker, safer shopping trip, especially when armed with our store map and a plan.
Q: Why aren’t all the employees wearing gloves?
A: Gloves are not a substitute for hand washing or regular hand sanitation, and can pick up and transfer the virus just as easily as bare skin. Gloves are not meant to be worn for an extended period of time, since they can cause cross contamination if they are not changed almost constantly. We wear gloves in our food service areas and our bulk department, as part of our regular food safety protocols. Our staff have the option of wearing gloves for their own protection but they are not required to do so.
Q: Should I wear gloves when I shop?
A: If you would like to wear gloves when you shop you are welcome to do so. Please remember that gloves transfer virus just as easily as bare skin, and you should still avoid touching your face or any items you do not intend to purchase. Disposable gloves are available in the Bulk Department for your use at any time. They are required for customers using the bulk scoop and gravity bins, but you may use them elsewhere in the store as well if you wish.
We’d appreciate it if you’d put on a clean pair of gloves or sanitize your hands (at the sanitizer station on the inner door) before you enter the store, so that you don’t inadvertently bring the virus into our community. Also, please dispose of your gloves properly when you leave; use a trash receptacle and do not discard used gloves on the ground or in the grocery carts. There is a trash receptacle in the exit, near the entrance, and at the cart corral for this use.
Q: Should I wear a mask when I shop?
A: The CDC recommends that people wear masks when in public, to protect the community from asymptomatic transmission. The State of New Hampshire requests that customers wear face coverings at all times when inside a retail establishment. Please wear a mask when you come to the co-op. If you forget your mask, we will provide a free one to you! Just ask at the service desk and one of our friendly associates will get you one. We do apologize it is a bit of a walk from the entrance, but we wanted to make sure these were kept in a safe, sanitary location.
Q: May I still bring my reusable bags to the store?
A: UPDATE Aug 2020: Yes, you may bring your clean reusable bags to the store. Please bag your own groceries at the register. We also have paper bags for 10 cents each, as well as complimentary grocery boxes for you to pack your purchase in.
