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Stores set special hours for seniors, others

Seeking to accommodate senior citizens, pregnant women and others with special health needs or disabilities, several local store chains are offering special morning hours.

The earlier times typically have fewer shoppers, and the stores are freshly cleaned.

Judy Nemenz Gabriel, president / owner of three Save A Lot stores in Youngstown, Columbiana, and Sharon, Pa. , and Nemenz IGA in Struthers, said the stores saw the need for helping what is considered a more vulnerable population during the novel coronavirus outbreak. So, the stores open at 8 a.m. with their first hours reserved for senior citizens and disabled shoppers.

“We are open for the first early hours for the elderly, expectant mothers and for anyone who is more susceptible to becoming ill. This is a courtesy we wanted to provide to them to not compromise their health. They can shop and have less stress and relax. This gives them the opportunity to shop and feel comfortable and safer,” she said.

Gabriel said the other customers can come into the store after those hours.

“The other customers have been very respectful for us setting aside the special hours for our seniors and others,” she said.

Gabriel said in Sharon, Pa. a bus in the morning brings some of the senior shoppers to the store.

She said family members and caregivers of seniors and others are welcome to accommodate them when shopping.

“I know the first few days we did this, many of the seniors were being helped by family members,” Gabriel said.

She said stores are kept clean all day, and they have had an extensive cleaning at the end of each day so they are most clean and fresh first thing in the morning.

John Kawecki, co-owner of Save A Lot stores in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, said the different locations offer the first 90 minutes open to the senior population.

“We started this Sunday and have had a good response. The senior customers appreciate this and the other shoppers respect what is being done and have been very cooperative,” he said.

Kawecki said a few non-senior shoppers have stopped at that time and were asked to return later, with them agreeing to come back at 10 a.m.

He said he and his fellow co-owners wanted to do what they could for seniors.

Kawecki said Gov. Mike DeWine had commented on the senior population in his recent speeches and how accommodations should be made to assist it.

“We already had in place what we could do to help seniors, which is what Gov. DeWine had recommended.,” Kawecki said.

Allison Mack, a spokeswoman for Walgreens Stores, said 8 to 9 a.m. every Tuesday all stores will be open and dedicated to senior citizens.

“We started this on Tuesday and will continue this every Tuesday for the near future, dedicating the first hour to senior citizen customers,” she said.

Mack said the first hour is also available to their caregivers and immediate families, who may also visit the store during this time.

Customers and patients should visit each store locator for specific pharmacy hours.

Walgreens said a senior day discount will be offered all day on Tuesdays during this time, Mack noted. Customers age 55 and older will receive 30 percent off regularly priced Walgreens brands and 20 percent off regularly priced national brands.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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