An Open Thank-You Letter to Grocery Store Employees

There are so many individuals to whom I owe a debt of gratitude because of their sacrifice and hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. I could go on and on thanking essential workers including healthcare workers, truck drivers, first responders, farmers, sanitation workers, and public health professionals, but today I am going to focus on those of you employed by grocery stores.

Regarding the pandemic, I’ve heard several people say (and they are correct) that “we’re all in the same storm, but we’re not all in the same boat.” In other words, the pandemic does challenge all of us in some way, but it challenges some individuals more than others. Individuals in large, sturdy boats can fare better and with less interruption in their lives than those in canoes or on makeshift rafts. This comes to mind when I think about grocery store employees because you work face-to-face with members of the public. As a stay-at-home mom, it is easy for me to stay home and be physically distant from others, but you must be in contact with others while completing your work. Your work is what allows me to put food on the table for my family, so I don’t take this lightly.

I’ve used curbside grocery pickup since the pandemic began. Thank you, grocery stores, for offering this option. Thank you, employees, for carefully selecting groceries for my family each week. You do such a good job selecting produce and choosing substitutions when items aren’t available. You often have smiles on your faces when you bring the groceries to the back of my van. I don’t know how you manage this last part given the stress of your work, but I greatly appreciate it.

I know that your work has changed somewhat during the pandemic, and this makes it more challenging. You now have to complete the work while wearing masks. You have to constantly sanitize surfaces. You have to deal with fights breaking out between customers when there are shortages of products like toilet paper. You even face verbal and physical assault from customers when you try to enforce mask mandates. I’m so sorry you have to deal with all of this. Thank you for your continued patience and commitment to customers despite all of it.

Fellow Americans, there is no excuse for mistreating grocery store employees. I’m not exaggerating when I say that they have faced abuse during the pandemic. They have literally been yelled at, beat up, and much worse by customers who refuse to wear masks that have been mandated by the stores or by state or local governments (see examples here, here, and here). You have the right, of course, to hold whatever opinions you want about masks. However, you do not have the right to verbally or physically assault a grocery store worker who is simply doing his or her job. Have some respect for the hardworking individuals who are making sure you have food to feed your family.

Thank you to grocery store employees across the country, and especially to those at my local HEB and Walmart. You are seen. You are appreciated. I’ve heard it said that heroes are ordinary people who have the courage to do what needs to be done in extraordinary circumstances. If this is accurate, then you are indeed heroes of this pandemic. Your work is essential in keeping this nation running. Thank you!

Are you grateful for the contributions grocery store employees have made throughout this pandemic? If so, add on your note of thanks below and be sure to say “thank you” to the employees next time you are at the store.

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home, Over the Moon, and Busy Monday.