by Anya Firszt, General Manager
Last month I reported that I was proud of the work we have accomplished thus far in addressing the organizational assessment recommendations from Step Up: Equity Matters, and that I was looking forward to the work we have planned to do with Step Up and our staff and Board.
And, then on September 20, we were made aware via a Facebook group post of an experience a customer had at one of our stores earlier that day. The customer reported being the subject of hurtful and discriminatory comments from a staff member while she was getting food from the Deli. The behavior described in this incident goes against all we stand for at the Willy Street Co-op and will not be tolerated. And, yet it occurred, and I am deeply saddened by these insensitive and offensive comments. Willy Street Co-op is committed to serving ALL of our community in the friendly, respectful manner that we all expect and deserve.
We are working to identify the staff person responsible for this wrongful act and we will take action regarding that specific incident. We recognize that the actions we will take regarding this specific incident do not erase the experience this person had. It highlights for us that we must do better, and we are taking multiple actions to prevent this from happening to others.
Two days later, we had conversations with our Department Managers at Willy East to provide guidance regarding expectations for staff interactions with customers; conversations with the Department Managers at our other locations will soon follow. We will also be expediting our already planned diversity, equity, and inclusion training for staff members, with a first session focused on the East frontline staff to occur within 60 days of that incident. We know we must do better and be better.
[On September 30th (after press time), we posted an update about this incident on our website. You can read the update here.]
Owner Appreciation
This month we celebrate 47 years of being open for business. Thank you for being part of our cooperative for any or all of those years. During the week of October 4th, we will have over 1000 items on sale for Co-op Owners, Wellness Wednesday on October 6th will of 15% off wellness and bodycare items instead of the usual 10%, we’ll give away 47 $25 gift cards, and we’ll serve free coffee and donuts on one morning at each store. See details here.
The Return of Double Dollars
We will once again start distributing Double Dollars on Tuesdays, beginning on October 19, 2021 through March 8, 2022. Any shopper using their FoodShare/QUEST card to purchase groceries will be eligible to receive up to $20 worth of Double Dollars vouchers on those Tuesdays. These vouchers help purchase fresh, canned and frozen produce, and seeds and seedlings for growing edible plants.
For every $5 you spent using FoodShare/QUEST for any FoodShare/QUEST eligible items, the Co-op will give you 1 (one) $5 Double Dollar voucher, up to $20. The vouchers can be used at any Willy Street Co-op retail location on any day October 2021 through May 2022 (as funds allow the program to continue).
Until next month.