Putting the Soul Back into Supermarkets
Words by Kate Love
Try for Charm at the Checkout
Empty shelves. Abusive customers. Burnt out cashiers.
As Covid-19 spreads rapidly across the world and panic buying sets in, supermarkets have become stressful places.
Will I find everything that I need to take care of my family? How am I going to pay for groceries when I’ve lost my job? What am I going to do if the items I need are restricted?
The stress is completely understandable. Some people are trying to feed their children on incredibly tight budgets. Others don’t know where they’re going to get their next meal.
Supermarket workers are bearing the brunt of this tension. Rude customers and long hours. Working overtime to stack the shelves and keep all of us fed during these challenging times. There are stories of customers hurling abuse at staff and fighting with each other over goods. When you get to the checkout, check in with your emotions. Do we really need to take out our stress on somebody who is in no way to blame?
But there are other stories too. Customers giving hardworking staff bags of chocolate and notes of appreciation. People paying for items that others can’t afford or sharing what they’ve been able to get from the shelves.
A little kindness can go a long way. Just a simple smile or a kind word can mean the world right now.
Here are some stories from The Kindness Pandemic to show that small acts of supermarket kindness are making a difference.
Bright Star
A massive thank you to Joanne at Coles treetops yesterday. I was short $28.00 on my shopping and she just whipped out a card and paid the balance for me before I could stop her. You are are bright star in my eyes. I will never forget you. May the universe bless you in abundance. - Jacqueline
A Smile Costs Nothing
Dropped into Woolies this morning for the essentials for my godson. The cashier gave me 1000 extra Rewards points because I was nice, ie. I greeted him with a smile and a hearty good morning. Not that my Rewards card ever gets me anything 😂 but the kind gesture of extra points was much appreciated.
A smile is contagious and costs nothing. - Kalapu
Sweet Moments
I was supporting my client at the square shopping centre (disability and aged care) in Lismore. My participant wanted a special cookie that was more than expensive. Having already had a good morning, she fell short on $$. The young lady behind us asked what she wanted. I showed her the cookie, she offered to pay and both my client and I declined.. Buying her coffee and slice of 🍰… we sat down and did our normal schedule. A stunning (inside and out) 23-year-old young lady came over 10 minutes later and slid (1) plate that had not only this costly cookie but a little note on the plate saying “Have a great a day”. The little side plate (2) that slid in beside it, had a mini scone and a note saying “Thank you for all you do behind the scenes”... I almost shed a years worth of tears... (Had to focus on explaining to my participant, on what just happened - she didn't understand what had happened, but understood that this amazing cookie was in front of her - glowing with a smile that was 1000000 footy light globes)... To that amazing young lady - you're worth a thousand hugs. - Sarah
Free Flowers
I was at Woolies this morning, feeling a bit sad about the social distancing and empty shelves. I was looking for opportunities to be kind, especially to the hardworking staff. I said good morning to one of the ladies working there and she gave me a pretty bunch of flowers for free!! ( I nearly broke down in the fruit and vege section) Thank you for brightening my day Christine. - Gail
Chocolate Surprise
The other day I was in Woolies shopping. As I wandered through the store to collect my items, I saw sign after sign pleading with customers to not be aggressive and abusive to staff. It broke my heart. I went to the lollies (candy) aisle and grabbed five bags of different chocolate share bags, went through the checkout and paid for my items including the chocolates. Then went straight to the service counter, put the chocolates on the counter and said to the front end manager:
“Can you please put these in the staff room as a small token of appreciation to all of you. I know that some people have been treating you horribly lately and I wanted to remind you that there are humans in the general public that are grateful for what you are doing and your contribution to the community by turning up for work every day.”
The front end manager was crying by the time I finished and told me that I had made her week. It doesn’t take much for us to show some kindness and appreciation to each other. - Michell
Cycle of Kindness
I work in a supermarket.
A man came through with his shopping, then his card was declined. People further back in the queue were getting annoyed and impatient. He said he’d make some calls to get it sorted. A few minutes later, the young boy who’d been behind this man with his parents came over to me. He asked how much the man’s shopping was and said they’d like to pay for it. I called the man back over and told him. The father of the boy said he’d felt so sad for the man when they’d just got everything they needed. He said that they frequently gave to charity anyway, so why not give it direct to someone who needed it at this time.
He cried. I cried. Then the man said: “Most of this shopping isn’t for me. I was getting it for a homeless lady I’ve seen”. And so the cycle went around. Absolutely warmed my heart. - Mel
An Unexpected Gift
My daughter was able to buy her groceries this morning as she is in health care.
When she was putting her groceries into her car a man got out of the car next to her and asked who the supermarket was letting in. When she told him he got back into his car and started to leave.
As he was backing out my daughter tapped on his window and asked if there was something specific he needed. His wife had asked him to try and find toilet paper.
My darling daughter took the toilet paper she had purchased out of her car and gave it to him.
Bless her heart. Let’s all pay it forward. - Pauline
Toilet Paper Angel
I met an angel 😇 in Woolies!!
I hold a concession card so I went down to the 7 - 8 am hour at woolies.
They had no toilet paper 🧻 on the shelves. There were people with toilet paper 🧻 in their trolleys but they must’ve been early birds 🐦!
I was just leaving the aisle when I heard a “You had to be quick”, a man 👨🏻 was behind me. I looked at him and chuckled 🤭 “Yes, I’m guessing so”.
He reached into his trolley and underneath all his groceries was a 4 pack of toilet paper 🧻, “I have extra at home 🏡, please take it”
I nearly fainted... I asked him if he was sure and thanked him.
I wasn’t sure whether to just turn around and force it back into his trolley or just accept it.
I’m still wondering whether or not I did the right the thing by accepting it.
So I thought 💭 this story was worth a mention!
In all this craziness, people hoarding and selfish thinking 💭 in a panic, there are still those people who have kindness, compassion and respect.
I mean, we all do but considering people were fighting each other over toilet paper 🧻 I was beginning to think 💭 we all got possessed by demons after the fires 🔥 and floods died down...
So thank you 😊 angel 😇 man 👨🏻 in the Woolies toilet paper 🧻 aisle!
Your action really moved me and has been such a positive thing in the middle of a messy + emotionally draining breakup, sleepless nights and people behaving selfishly. - Elizabeth
Join The Kindness Pandemic’s campaign for random acts of supermarket kindness, please share your stories and keep up the amazing action!