2020 Hometown Heroes

Page 60 2020 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 14, 2020 On the website we found a special news section for COVID-19. This press information was provided on March 25, 2020. There, it noted that Aldi is taking steps to provide a secure and safe store for their associates and customers. The stores are in the process of adding protective shields at the checkouts. They are posting reminders about social distancing around their store, to help people remember not to gather too close together while shopping. The site also notes that the store is offering special shopping hours for vulnerable customers. Each week on Tuesday and Thursday, the store is opening at 8:30 a.m. and the first hour of the day is designated to those who are at higher risk if they contract coronavirus. This would include those who are over 65 and those who have health issues such as heart or lung conditions, or diabetes. A recent trip to Aldi revealed that our local store is doing a pretty good job of staying stocked. There was plenty of cereal products as well as canned goods. There were limits on canned goods and other high demand items. The meat racks were sparse but there was some. Bread was very low, but some of the products we had been unable to find at Wal-Mart were at Aldi such as sugar and flour. In all, there is food out there to be bought. You may have to be a little less picky about brands and you may be restricted on how much you can buy. Toilet paper and paper towels still appear to be in high demand, but there is also a lot of evidence that people overbought on those items early in this mess. Manufacturers of products such as Angel Soft are currently running advertisements saying they are working as hard and fast as possible to replenish stocks, so this is a world-wide issue, not just Logan County. There are also jokes on social media about the quantities that are being bought. With these products being limited quantity purchase in most local stores, perhaps this issue will correct itself in the near future. With President Trump stating on Sunday that he will extend federal restrictions through the end of April, we can only guess that our Governor will also extend some of his actions. If so, then we may have a while longer to endure the social distancing and the stay at home rule. Please, be patient, be kind, and when you do go to the grocery and are able to get what you need, be thankful. [Nila Smith]