REAL Services Promotes Shopping Options During COVID-19 Pandemic
March 31, 2020 at 11:00 p.m.
REAL Services Promotes Shopping Options During COVID-19 Pandemic
By Amanda [email protected]
“The whole concept of REAL Services is helping people live independently in a safe environment,” Tricia Mentz, marketing/communications manager of REAL Services, said. REAL Services provides resources to Kosciusko, Marshall, Elkhart, St. Joe and LaPorte counties.
Mentz recently promoted the grocery stores and pharmacies in Kosciusko County that are providing options when it comes to getting people what they need that includes delivery or curbside pick-up.
“Obviously, with the mandate of shelter in place, it’s very important that our community members, especially the most vulnerable, are following that order,” she said. “With these grocery stores and pharmacies offering this vital service, they are absolutely holding the most vulnerable in a safe place, which is in their own homes.”
The only grocery store in the county that is offering free delivery to people’s home is the locally-owned Sherman & Lin’s Discount Grocery, 1900 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
Kelly Nichols bought the “scratch and dent” mart from Butch Schapson three years ago; Schapson had owned it for 14 years prior.
Nichols said she will personally deliver what a customer needs within 6 miles of Warsaw city limits, free of charge.
“We’ve only been doing it for a week and we’ve probably done eight deliveries,” she said. “We pride ourselves on customer service, and we just need to do what needs to be done.”
Customers can call or text Nichols at 574-527-5206 to place their order and can pay over the phone or with cash upon delivery.
“People just call in or text and say this is what I need,” Nichols said. “I try to, when they’re on the phone, walk through the store and we’re like one of the scratch-and-dent stores, so sometimes we have what they need, sometimes we don’t, so I can say, ‘Well, we have don’t have this, but we do have this.’”
She said she has had some elderly people use the free service.
Nichols said they don’t only carry groceries, but also pet food, coffee including k-cups and they have toilet paper.
The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the garden center next door to the grocery shop is planning to open in 10 days. Nichols said customers can just pull up in their car and “if they want to see this plant or that plant, we bring it to the car.”
Nichols said the store also works with the Salvation Army and REAL Services.
“We just want to make sure that people have what they need with the least amount of stress,” she said.
Another store that offers delivery for groceries is Meijer, for a $9.95 delivery fee. Visit meijer.com to place an order and for more information.
Walmart and Owen’s offer curbside pick-up for customers who place their order in advance, but neither store offers delivery. For customers wanting to get groceries delivered from Martin’s or Aldi, REAL Services suggests emailing [email protected] or calling 888-246-7822.
Area pharmacies are also ramping up their deliveries.
HomeTown Pharmacy, 1775 E. Center St., Warsaw, delivers for free prescription medication to Retired Tigers Apartments and Courts of Colfax senior living residents; otherwise, a charge of $2 for delivery within city limits and $3 out of city limits will apply.
HomeTown pharmacist Heather Walker said she’s seen a small increase in the delivery services but that they’ve also started a curbside pick-up service for customers who don’t want to get out of their vehicle.
“And we have definitely seen an increase in that,” she said.
Walmart also will bring prescriptions out to vehicles.
Pill Box Pharmacy, 2306 Dubois Drive, Warsaw, will deliver for a charge of $5 for every five miles; $10 for every 10 miles; and $20 for every 20 miles. Walgreens will deliver through FedEx only and customers need to sign up online and a charge of $5 to $10 will apply. Call 800-2-REFILL to make arrangements.
CVS shoppers can find more information at cvs.com.
Mentz said anyone worried about whether or not they should sanitize their groceries after they get them should follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to understand how long the coronavirus can stay on a container.
She also suggests businesses contact REAL Services to get put on their website, www.realservices.org, to help REAL provide the most up-to-date services being provided.
“These grocery stores and pharmacies, they’re doing such an invaluable service right now,” she said.
“The whole concept of REAL Services is helping people live independently in a safe environment,” Tricia Mentz, marketing/communications manager of REAL Services, said. REAL Services provides resources to Kosciusko, Marshall, Elkhart, St. Joe and LaPorte counties.
Mentz recently promoted the grocery stores and pharmacies in Kosciusko County that are providing options when it comes to getting people what they need that includes delivery or curbside pick-up.
“Obviously, with the mandate of shelter in place, it’s very important that our community members, especially the most vulnerable, are following that order,” she said. “With these grocery stores and pharmacies offering this vital service, they are absolutely holding the most vulnerable in a safe place, which is in their own homes.”
The only grocery store in the county that is offering free delivery to people’s home is the locally-owned Sherman & Lin’s Discount Grocery, 1900 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
Kelly Nichols bought the “scratch and dent” mart from Butch Schapson three years ago; Schapson had owned it for 14 years prior.
Nichols said she will personally deliver what a customer needs within 6 miles of Warsaw city limits, free of charge.
“We’ve only been doing it for a week and we’ve probably done eight deliveries,” she said. “We pride ourselves on customer service, and we just need to do what needs to be done.”
Customers can call or text Nichols at 574-527-5206 to place their order and can pay over the phone or with cash upon delivery.
“People just call in or text and say this is what I need,” Nichols said. “I try to, when they’re on the phone, walk through the store and we’re like one of the scratch-and-dent stores, so sometimes we have what they need, sometimes we don’t, so I can say, ‘Well, we have don’t have this, but we do have this.’”
She said she has had some elderly people use the free service.
Nichols said they don’t only carry groceries, but also pet food, coffee including k-cups and they have toilet paper.
The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the garden center next door to the grocery shop is planning to open in 10 days. Nichols said customers can just pull up in their car and “if they want to see this plant or that plant, we bring it to the car.”
Nichols said the store also works with the Salvation Army and REAL Services.
“We just want to make sure that people have what they need with the least amount of stress,” she said.
Another store that offers delivery for groceries is Meijer, for a $9.95 delivery fee. Visit meijer.com to place an order and for more information.
Walmart and Owen’s offer curbside pick-up for customers who place their order in advance, but neither store offers delivery. For customers wanting to get groceries delivered from Martin’s or Aldi, REAL Services suggests emailing [email protected] or calling 888-246-7822.
Area pharmacies are also ramping up their deliveries.
HomeTown Pharmacy, 1775 E. Center St., Warsaw, delivers for free prescription medication to Retired Tigers Apartments and Courts of Colfax senior living residents; otherwise, a charge of $2 for delivery within city limits and $3 out of city limits will apply.
HomeTown pharmacist Heather Walker said she’s seen a small increase in the delivery services but that they’ve also started a curbside pick-up service for customers who don’t want to get out of their vehicle.
“And we have definitely seen an increase in that,” she said.
Walmart also will bring prescriptions out to vehicles.
Pill Box Pharmacy, 2306 Dubois Drive, Warsaw, will deliver for a charge of $5 for every five miles; $10 for every 10 miles; and $20 for every 20 miles. Walgreens will deliver through FedEx only and customers need to sign up online and a charge of $5 to $10 will apply. Call 800-2-REFILL to make arrangements.
CVS shoppers can find more information at cvs.com.
Mentz said anyone worried about whether or not they should sanitize their groceries after they get them should follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to understand how long the coronavirus can stay on a container.
She also suggests businesses contact REAL Services to get put on their website, www.realservices.org, to help REAL provide the most up-to-date services being provided.
“These grocery stores and pharmacies, they’re doing such an invaluable service right now,” she said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092