Pick n Pay Strubenvale gives back to the community

Pick n Pay Strubenvale has stepped up to help the hungry during the lockdown with their donation of tinned food and mealie meal.

Ana Caldeira, owner of the supermarket, says what they are doing now is nothing new.

“We’ve always helped the community and work with organisations such as the SPCA and the Rotary club.

“The community support us and where we can help, we do,” says Caldeira.

She says trading during the lockdown has been very strange and says each day is different.

“Normally, for month-end, we could project what we need to stock up on.

“There was a bit of panic buying after the president’s initial address and we sold out of mealie meal, baking aids, anti-septic products, tinned food and oil.

“At the beginning, it was difficult to educate people about the virus and why it was important to adhere to the social distancing rules.

“Now, people are adhering to the rules, and it’s working well for everyone,” says Caldeira.

To protect staff and customers, the store has initiated a pensioners hour from 7am to 8am every Wednesday.

Only a few customers are allowed into the store at a time and their hands and trolleys are sanitised before they go into the store.

There is now a partition between the cashier and customer and the cashier sanitises the surface and keypad of the speedpoint machine after every customer.

Additionally, staff are given two masks a day, one to wear on the way home and another to wear coming to work.

The store has also partnered with ProSafe to get food to the elderly.

For  other customers, the store has started a delivery service for orders above R500.

“There is no delivery fee and all you have to do is contact us via email on fstrubenvale@pnp.co.za or contact Baldwin on 063 2320 956 to place your order.

“We’ve been here for 16 years thanks to the community.

“This is us doing our part in giving back,” says Caldeira.