Have Somebody Do Your Grocery Shopping for You!

Are you someone who could use some extra assistance with grocery shopping? Whether you’re just busy or have medical reasons for needing a little extra help in this department, there is assistance available!

Those of us who are battling macular degeneration can struggle with everyday things like grocery shopping for many reasons.

Grocery shopping isn't easy for the visually impaired

Vision loss often means having a harder time doing certain things. For example:

• Driving to and from stores independently
• Reading labels and prices on food items (they’re seriously tiny!)
• Safely pushing around a cart at the store
• Seeing in the bright, often fluorescent lighting at stores
• Being able to pay independently: counting money with ease, writing a check, or typing in a pin
• Feeling anxious or nervous around impatient or ignorant shoppers or store clerks

Online grocery shopping

Do you wrestle with any of these things? Whether you struggle to see well enough to shop alone, are wanting more independence, or just need one less thing on your proverbial plate...I have some great news for you! You no longer have to battle your way through the grocery store!

Many of us are used to purchasing a few items here and there online and having it delivered to our houses. But grocery shopping online is a little bit different simply because we are purchasing so much more at once.

Pickup or delivery service

There are a few different ways to use these new-age grocery services. You can either schedule your necessities to be ready for pickup at your convenience, or some stores will even deliver everything right to your door. You can order online using your computer or by using the app each store provides on your phones or tablets.

Some stores, like Walmart, will even box up your items and deliver them to a nearby FedEx office for pickup if you don’t live near any of their stores. You just have to know which services your local stores provide.

Different stores provide different services

For example, Walmart currently only allows pickup services, but if you don’t have a Walmart near you, they can and will ship to a FedEx location for pickup. To see what services your local stores provide, simply give them a call or go online to check. My local Aldi will deliver orders to homes, but they haven’t quite made it to my town yet. I can’t wait until they do!

Here's a list stores that provide some of these services to give you a start!

• Walmart
• Your local grocery store (Aldi, Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Schnucks…)
• Target
• Dollar General
• Amazon

There can be a small fee

Be sure to know the ins and outs of your particular store’s processes before ordering. Some stores, like Walmart, always have a free standard pickup, which is great! Stores that ship directly to your home usually have a fee. Some stores that do have a fee usually have a special for a free first-time experience for you to try it out!

Benefits of grocery delivery and pickup

Not only can some of your local stores help ease stressors by grocery shopping for you, but they can also shop for your everyday needs like toilet paper, laundry detergent and over the counter medications. What a convenience!

Some stores, like Walgreens and CVS, will even ship your prescription medications right to your door. This could help to avoid a trip out to pick those up. And you can avoid waiting in their long lines to receive your medication. Win, win!

What to look out for

If a fill-in shopper can’t find the exact item you’ve ordered (or if the store is out of stock), they may substitute for something similar. This doesn’t happen often, but be prepared just in case it does. You may want to ask about each store's policy on this just so you know!

Be kind

Please be kind to your grocery store helpers! They are providing us with such a convenience and should be treated with the gratitude we feel for them. Grocery store pickup workers aren’t allowed to accept tips from any of the places I’ve looked into, but I assure you there is a way to help them feel appreciated! A please, thank you, a smile, and even a little help loading groceries into the car (if you’re able) goes a long way! You can also always leave a positive review on the store’s website.

Shopping in the comfort of your own home always feels so nice, doesn’t it? You can even shop in your underwear if you’d like...just don’t arrive at the grocery pickup line in them (haha!).

Happy shopping (from home)!

Andrea Junge