Update as of Thursday, March 25. This information will be updated as needed so please go to foodcoop.com for the latest information.
Shopping Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m
Members must be on the line outside by 7:00 p.m. at the latest. The Coop reserves the right to make the deadline for getting in line earlier than 7:00 p.m. if the wait time on the outside line exceeds the ability to get everyone in the Coop by closing.
Wait times can vary greatly depending upon the conditions in the Coop. Plan ahead by getting in line early. Line information will be updated on @ foodcoop on Instagram or Twitter.
We urge all members to Read more below for access to complete information about changes to Coop policies and guidance to the Coop community. All posted policies and practices are subject to change in response to the conditions at the Coop. Follow @foodcoop on Instagram or Twitter for the most current information, and check-in before visiting the Coop.
Shopping and Operational Updates
ALL CURRENT COOP MEMBERS MAY SHOP, EVEN IF SUSPENDED
During this unprecedented period, rules limiting shopping privileges for members who are suspended and have exceeded their grace period have been lifted. Until further notice, all current Coop members are eligible to shop regardless of their Coop “status.”
Going forward you will be able to shop even if as of 3/01/2020 or after you were/are “suspended” because for one of these reasons: work, member payments, training, orientation, or documentation owed for a work exemption (such as Parental or Disability). As a result, there is currently no need to contact the Coop in regard to any aspect of your member work history or your work slot requirement at the Coop. Please just come to shop with the full confidence that if you were a Coop member on 3/1/2020 and have not since taken a temporary or permanent leave of absence from the Coop, you will be able to shop.
MEMBERSHIP OFFICE: The Office is closed until further notice. We urgently request your understanding in asking that you DO NOT CALL or VISIT the Membership Office at this time. Closing is necessary to allow the Coop paid staff to focus on the shopping floor.
EVERYONE: If you feel ill, anyone in your household is ill, or you have been directed to self-monitor and -quarantine, please stay home. We are asking you not to enter the building to protect our Coop community. Follow the guidance of NYC Dept of Health or the CDC found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html or https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/stop-the-spread-poster.pdf
Only members who are shopping should be in the building. We request specifically that you do not bring non-member visitors/guests to the Coop at this time. Do not use the Coop’s common spaces for any other purpose at this time. We appreciate your consideration of the well-being and safety of the Coop staff.
CONTROLLED ENTRY: The Coop is controlling entry into the Coop for all shopping members. The maximum number of shoppers is 35 plus up to 10 shoppers checking out. Members will be allowed to enter to shop at the pace that keeps us in line with the maximum number. The length of time could vary widely given the shopping conditions in the Coop.
Members need to maintain at least 6 feet of space between themselves and others in the waiting line outside. Take care of each other and make room.
Please dress appropriately for standing outside in whatever weather.
ELDERS: To assist our senior Coop members we are putting in place the following system to operate until further notice.
If you are an older Coop member and want to shop at the Coop, please do the following:
- Get in the line waiting outside to enter the Coop.
- Identify yourself to the members around you in line and ask them to hold your place.
- Proceed to the front of the line and tell the outside line manager that you need a place to sit while waiting for your place in line to be called in to shop.
- You will be provided a chair to sit in while waiting. You might still be waiting outside the Coop so dress appropriately for the weather. We have limited space in the Coop for members to sit while waiting and also maintain the sufficient physical distance from one another. If there is space inside to wait, a Coop paid staff person will let you know.
- If you are in a high-risk category and absolutely cannot wait, even while seated, please to speak to a member of the Coop paid staff for assistance.
We acknowledge that many will feel this system does not go far enough to help our seniors, and we apologize in advance to any member who feels this doesn’t meet their needs. We are doing our best to meet the needs of all the members who want to shop while also providing a safe working space for our paid staff.
SHOPPING PROTOCOLS:
- Maximum number of shoppers in Coop is 35 plus up to 10 shoppers checking out.
- Keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and other shoppers and staff.
- Limit of 4 people per regular aisle and 8 people in produce (including paid staff working in those aisles).
- Only the following stations will be open: 1-2 express and 5-6 regular checkout lanes, 1 cashier, one entrance desk.
- Only shopping members should be in the building. Please limit your time in the building to those activities. We request specifically that you do not bring visitors/guests to the Coop at this time.
- Spread yourself out across the Coop shopping floor. Don’t head to the produce aisle first if everyone else is going that way!
- Do not hand your card/slip to the checkout worker. Scan your card on the front-facing reader or across the scale.
- Please unload your groceries onto the counter and step away from the checkout to protect the worker. The worker can step away when you are packing your groceries.
- If paying with cash, set your cash on the counter and let the cashier pick it up. Try to avoid hand contact with the cashier.
- No personal carts in the Coop shopping area. You will be asked to store your personal cart at the front of the building near the cashier stations.
- Don’t place your personal shopping bag on the deck of the checkout counter. Keep your bags in your cart and pack into the bags in the cart.
- Only touch items that you want to buy!
- Shop alone if possible to facilitate allowing more members to shop. Let your spouse, partner, or household member wait outside the Coop while you shop.
LET’S MAKE SPACE: Our top consideration is providing for a more spacious working and shopping environment in the Coop. The Coop is trying to follow the guidance of physical distancing as much as possible. While waiting in line outside or shopping in the Coop, please take care to provide at least 6 feet of space between yourself and other Coop members and staff. We have taped off the floor in aisles 3, 4, 6 and 7 with yellow markings to help people better understand what 6 feet of distance looks like when they are waiting on line.
SANITIZING/HYGIENE: Members must use hand sanitizer when entering the building. Shopping members should wipe the handles of the basket or cart with sanitizing wipes. Sanitizing foam dispensers are installed around the shopping floor. The Coop will make sure that the sanitizing wipe dispensers and foaming dispensers are full and available for use. The Coop is thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the common surfaces and spaces every night.
MEMBER SERVICES: Members interested in receiving text or email notifications from the Coop should sign up for Member Services. Follow this link to register: https://members.foodcoop.com/services/login/?next=/services/
AUTHORIZED SHOPPER: The requirements to have an Authorized Shopper have been relaxed as a response to COVID-19. Our goal is to make the authorized shopper program more easily available to our members who identify that they are in a high-risk category and need to limit social contact or self-isolate.
What is an Authorized Shopper? An authorized shopper is a non-member who is allowed to shop for a current Coop member without the Coop member being present.
The Coop is not requiring at this time that:
- You are on a work-exempt committee (for example, temporary disability or parental leave) to have an Authorized Shopper
- Your Authorized Shopper does not need to provide the Coop with a separate proof of address. Your Authorized Shopper will need to provide the Coop with a photo ID that displays their address.
- You do not need to sign the Authorized Shopper form. A staff member can confirm by phone your request to have an Authorized Shopper.
These changes will be in effect until further notice and may be subject to modification if the guidance from public health agencies/officials changes. All other guidelines of the Authorized Shopper program remain in effect.
NYS BOTTLE REDEMPTION: Until further notice, the Coop will not accept bottle or can return under the New York State Redemption program. New York State has suspended the program during the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts.
SODASTREAM RETURNS: Please wash thoroughly your SodaStream canister before returning to the Coop. If possible, return your clean canister in a plastic bag for the safety of the Coop paid staff.
GENERAL MEETING: The March 31 and April 28 General Meetings are canceled to follow the guidelines of the CDC and NYC regarding events and gatherings.
CHILDCARE: The Childcare Room is closed for the foreseeable future.
ORIENTATION AND ALL EVENTS: Canceled until further notice.
TERRACYCLE: TerraCycle collections are suspended indefinitely.
VISITORS: The Coop strongly recommends that members do not bring visitors at this time in consideration of our Coop community. Due to our social distancing guidelines, we do not have room for visitors to be on the shopping floor with members at this time.