Quality Foods in Comox will start registration next week for a new program to help seniors and persons with a disability with their grocery shopping.
Q-SHOP (Seniors Helping Other Seniors) will be co-ordinated by volunteer seniors and Quality Foods. Volunteer Sandy Higginson says the service is important, especially in Comox.
"Because of the Valley growing, more of the people are becoming seniors and this service is really valuable for them, especially if they can't drive anymore," she says.
Seniors and persons with a disability can simply call the Q-SHOP direct line at 250-941-4208 and place their grocery order on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8 a.m. and noon.
Volunteers such as Higginson will do the shopping, and then Quality Foods will deliver the grocery order that day for a $5 fee.
Comox Quality Foods manager Rick Gaiga says a portion of that $5 fee will be donated to an, as yet undetermined, seniors facility to help out with things like equipment purchases.
"Quality Foods feels its important to donate back to a seniors facility because we truly believe that there is a need for such things as beds, chairs, walkers and unknown equipment that are aging and need replacing," says Gaiga. "We would like to give back in support."
The program will officially launch on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 27 and 28, but there will be a registration period from noon to 4 p.m. this coming Wednesday and Thursday (Feb. 20 and 21).
Q-SHOP is only offered at the Quality Foods in Comox.
Higginson says she's excited to start helping other people with their shopping, and it's something she can feel good about doing.
"I feel it's very rewarding and I'm putting something back into the community," she says.
For more information, call the Q-SHOP line at 250-941-4208 or visit Quality Foods in Comox at 2275 Guthrie Rd.