Woolies Offer Care Packages, Expand Hours for the Elderly and People With Disabilities

They’re doing their bit for those who need it most right now.

As supermarket shelves are made bare due to coronavirus panic buying, Woolies has stepped in to offer care packages to the vulnerable and elderly who may be struggling to make ends meet.

This afternoon, Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Clair Peters announced at a press conference in Sydney that the care packages would be available every day from Thursday 20 March.

The update comes just after the supermarket had also announced the decision to open their doors exclusively for people with disabilities and the elderly between 7am and 8am from Tuesday 17 March.

We’re launching a dedicated shopping hour in our stores to help support the needs of the elderly & people with disability in the community. From tomorrow until at least friday, we’ll be opening exclusively for them to shop from 7-8am, where permitted.

— Woolworths (@woolworths) March 15, 2020

Woolies also plans to close all stores an hour earlier (8pm) every evening from Wednesday to allow for store and stock replenishment.

The change comes after calls from people on social media posting images and videos of empty shelves and elderly individuals with no options.

@Coles @woolworths @ALDIAustralia Have you thought about a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and the disabled upon restocking essentials? #CoronaVirus #ToiletPaper #Compassion pic.twitter.com/k0p4VmNy16

— LP (@Hope_Rules) March 14, 2020

While some of the reaction on social media has been positive, with many individuals praising the supermarket for their decision, many others are disappointed with the lack of convenience and accessibility to the early opening time.

Well done Woolworths.
The elderly should be respected. Instead of being pushed around by selfish scumbags running by them & buying up everything before they can get down the aisles.

— Penny (@4URThoughtsAust) March 16, 2020

Lovely idea but... How the hell does my 90 year old mother get to woolies by 8am? Carers don’t start work until 9 at the earliest! Disabled people share same issue. They move slowly. Take time to get ready. Going out can be a huge effort for some. 10-11am would be far more doable

— Margie Braunstein (@Heartnicity) March 15, 2020

While opinion is divided it's important to consider how these changes will assist the vulnerable, elderly and those who live with a disability in our communities.

As coronavirus fear has spread, so has the increase in panic-buying within all our major supermarkets and grocery stores, causing many people, including the vulnerable and the elderly, to often miss out.

With Woolies opening their doors an hour earlier, vulnerable and elderly shoppers most at risk of infection will be able to access much needed supplies, when they are at the highest stock level, and in a safer and calmer environment.

Shoppers rushing to the supermarkets to stock up on supplies has increased instances of aggression and violent behavior, causing fear for retail employees and vulnerable people.

Ms Peters also said that Woolworths would maintain a zero-violence policy.

“No matter how frustrating the customer experience can be… nobody should come to work to be physically assaulted, hurt or abused.”

As many supermarkets pause grocery delivery services in parts of the country, these care packages will provide huge assistance to individuals who are unable to leave their homes or be surrounded by large crowds.

For individuals without help from carers or family, care packages and dedicated shopping hours allow people to maintain their independence and gain access to their weekly groceries.

For now, keep your fingers crossed that these changes will lessen the impact on retail workers and allow everyone to get the groceries that they need.

Header Image: Barcroft Media via Getty Images