Starting Wednesday, January 8, 2025, our Wednesday shopping hours (noon – 3:00 p.m.) will be reserved for seniors and those with disabilities.
After lots of feedback from clients, and working internally to formulate a successful plan, we think these new accessible hours will improve the experience of getting food for these populations.
These hours will likely include shorter lines waiting for entry, less time spent shopping, shopping assistance from volunteers, and more.
During this three-month trial period, we welcome your feedback and ideas about this change. Use the form below to share your thoughts.
FAQs about accessible shopping hours:
Regular Wednesday hours open are not changing, but who can shop during this time is. We are normally open from noon to 3:00 p.m. every Wednesday and will continue to be. The only difference is that only those who are older adults (60+) and those with disabilities can shop during these hours on Wednesdays.
These two populations are still welcome all other days.
We conducted several focus groups in 2024 that focused on better understanding our clients’ experiences shopping. One overwhelming theme that emerged from these conversations was the need for accessible shopping hours that allowed for older adults and those with disabilities to access food more easily.
We chose to implement this change on Wednesdays, because it’s one of our least busy shopping days. Therefore, it will impact the least amount of shoppers who don’t meet these qualifications and be ideal for those who need more time and space to shop due to the already less busy traffic.
We will start by checking our Link2Feed client information to see if you’ve already indicated you have a disability. If it indicates you do, you will be allowed to shop on Wednesdays. If our current client information doesn’t indicate you have a disability, and you tell us you do, we will make this permanent notation in the Link2Feed database, and you will be allowed to shop on Wednesdays.
Older adults who are 60 years of age and older.
We believe these accessible shopping hours will have less traffic which will likely mean shorter lines, less time standing, and a less congested market floor to navigate.
On these days, there will be additional volunteers working as “shopping buddies.” They will be there to assist with selecting items, pushing carts, loading carts, navigating the shopping floor, carrying and lifting, getting the cart to the car, loading the car, and more. Just let us know what you need when you get here.
Other than these anticipated differences, the service, foods available, and general shopping experience will remain the same.
Proxy shopping won’t be allowed during accessible hours, even if they shop for a senior or a person with a disability. These hours are designated for those who need assistance, more time, etc.
We are doing a three-month trial period to see how it goes. We intend and hope to stay with this plan, but are open to changing the way operate it as we learn how it all plays out during this trial period.
We’re sorry this is worrisome; getting into a new routine is hard. If you’re unable to shop another day, we are grateful there are other agencies, locations, and pantries from which you can obtain food on Wednesdays. Look at our Food Finder Map to see what other options exist for Wednesday shopping.
Click here and follow the steps below:
SCREEN 1
Enter your zip code in the upper left field. Adjust the radius based on how far you’re able to travel, and click “More Filters.”
SCREEN 2:
- Click “Wednesday.”
- Then, select any or all of the three options under the header “Food Program Category.”
- Then, click “Apply.”
SCREEN 3:
You will see a list of options for getting food on the right side of the window.
It will depend on what each client wants and needs. On these days, there will be additional volunteers working as “shopping buddies.” They will be there to assist with selecting items, pushing carts, loading carts, navigating the shopping floor, carrying and lifting, getting the cart to the car, loading the car, and more. Just let us know when you get here.
Unfortunately, no. And the same is true for the opposite (your ride share person is 60 ir older and/or has a disability, but you are not). In order to truly meet the goals of creating an accessible shopping experience, only those who meet the criteria will be able to shop during these hours.
