“We’re used to huge numbers of deliveries for Pesach; we were prepared for that. We have extra vans. Delivery is not the issue. The issue is getting all those orders together."
At Evergreen, the panic hit at possibly the worst time: the point where the store usually takes advantage of a slow shopping week and begins to stock the shelves with Pesach supplies.
Facing a new and unfamiliar dynamic, the management quickly set priorities. But as the circumstances keep changing, protocol needs to change as well. “We’re in ongoing meetings, day after day,” the Evergreen manager says, “trying to keep everybody safe and doing whatever we can and as fast as we can for the customers. It is very challenging. It’s an ongoing process, an ongoing discussion.”
The chief priority is safety. “Pesach is coming and we know people are going to have to come out and shop for it, but the question is how are we going to manage those people in a way that is safe for everybody.” New clothing is optional, new shoes are optional, but everyone needs food.
To ensure safety, Evergreen swiftly banned children under age 16, limited families to one member at a time, and enforced social distancing. They also installed plexiglass dividers at every checkout counter to protect both customers and cashiers.
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