A West Vancouver retirement residence has been hosting a farmers’-market style event in order to bring the experience of grocery shopping to residents who are trying to avoid setting foot in brick-and-mortar stores.
In a bid to encourage their residents to stay home if possible in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Westerleigh PARC in West Vancouver has been hosting pop-up markets for its residents.
Residents are being canvassed by Westerleigh staff prior to each market event in order to find out what they want to purchase. Staff have then been sourcing the items and residents are able to buy them during the market days.
HeeSon Domay, general manager at Westerleigh PARC, said that residents have appreciated the convenience of being able to grab a few items without having to leave the building, which makes it easier for them to practise safe physical distancing.
The retirement residence launched the project last month, with stay-at-home orders were more explicit than they are now.
“A lot of our residents were ordering in groceries from the local grocery stores and drug stores to be delivered. However, sometimes with all the ordering that was happening some of the stores were being inundated with orders and sometimes it was difficult to get orders through the phone or online,” said Domay.
Commonly requested items have included things like fresh produce, face masks, toiletries and sundries such as laundry detergent and lotion, according to Domay.
PARC Retirement Living’s White Rock residence has also been doing the in-house markets event, and there are plans to bring it to PARC’s three other Lower Mainland residences as well, she said.
PARC also operates two residences in North Vancouver.
“We were looking at options to provide another safe way for residents to get necessary items and supplies instead of having to go out to the grocery stores or go out to the drug stores,” said Domay. “There was such a demand for it.”
The market events will now be hosted twice per month going forward, she said.
