A run down of essential services

Earlier this week the Provincial Government ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down for a period of three weeks to help stem the tide of COVID-19. That begs the question, however, of what are the essential services that are continue to be offered?
Food banks, animal shelters, veterinary clinics, laundromats, funeral service businesses and cemeteries, financial institutions, grocery stores, and pharmacies are still available to provide help and support. Many of these establishments have modified their hours and/or have made new services available. Among these new options are things like home delivery, although the form this takes can vary from place to place. It is suggested to contact your local establishments before heading out to confirm their hours and what they are offering.
The Provigo Robert Lafond in Lennoxville currently has an online system set in place so that customers can do their grocery shopping and pre-pay for everything right online.
“We prepare the orders in the store and we bring them outside to the customer directly, they don’t even have to come inside,” said Robert Lafond, owner of the Provigo.
They also modified their hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
LeBaron’s in North Hatley also has a similar system set it place.
Starting March 29th, LeBaron’s is offering to prepare orders for pick and all you have to do is send in your complete order to axep8248@gmail.com with your name and phone number. Orders will not be taken over the phone.
They ask that the order be specific just in case they do not have the exact brand or type of product needed. They will prepare the order and contact customers to confirm costs.
Payment by check or credit is preferred but cash and debit are possible.
Order preparation and pick-up is available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Saturday. You can place an order on Saturday but it will not be ready until Sunday. Orders can be picked up on the porch to respect self-isolation.
LeBaron’s is also suggesting that if you have a big grocery shopping to do, that you make an appointment with them in the morning by calling 819-842-2487 and they will open up the doors for you to go to the store.
Doors will be open for regular shopping from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Sunday to Friday but will be open all day Saturday.
If you are quarantined, having your groceries delivered is possible but LeBaron’s is asking that you first try to make arrangements with a friend or family member for pick up. If not, they will try and find a volunteer to deliver them.
La Place Water in Waterville also has a delivery and pick-up system set in place.
La Place Water is currently making deliveries Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but owner Nathalie Bouffard is hoping that by next week, they will be offering this service Monday to Friday. Delivery service is available to residents in Waterville but they will also deliver to its nearby surroundings.
Customers can send in their order either by phone, La Place Water’s Facebook page, or by email at epicerie@laplacewater.ca and the order will be prepared and delivered for a small fee of three dollars.
“If someone sends an e-mail and I don’t have the product they want, I will contact them and tell them what I have available,” Bouffard said.
Orders can be sent in and be prepared to be picked up at the store for those that prefer.
La Place Water is sticking to its regular schedule this week, they are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but they plan on reducing them from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. by next week.
Three local pharmacies, Jean-Coutu in Lennoxville, Familiprix Chantal Richard in Stanstead, and Familiprix Extra Philippe Leng in Richmond, also have services set in place to ensure that customers receive what they need while respecting social isolation.
The Lennoxville Jean-Coutu is currently only using their back door and they are only taking two clients at a time. “I have my employees take them to whatever they want and they will take their items to the front cash, the customers don’t touch the products, and they scan them and put them in a bag and walk the customer out,” said Thelma Doherty, Assistant manager of Jean-Coutu.
They are trying to limit the amount of people in the store as much as possible by offering delivery services, something they have always done, and preparing orders for pick up.
“Right now I am calling a lot of customers that are supposed to come get their orders to see if I can arrange with them to give me their credit card number beforehand so when they arrive everything is ready and they don’t even have to come inside. Their package will be waiting for them right at the back door.”
As of next Monday, Jean-Coutu will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the lab will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m., and phones will be available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Familiprix Chantal Richard is also offering pick-up and delivery services for prescriptions and floor products, especially to those that 70 years and older, all customers have to do is call to send in their order.
Prescriptions can be renewed ordered online but an access code is needed so it is suggested to call the pharmacy.
“When people come in, we ask them if they have symptoms and if they do we ask them to leave and if they are older we also ask them to leave and we will deliver their things,” said Chantal Richard. “We have a big sign saying don’t come in if you have symptoms but it doesn’t always work.”
As of now, their hours remain the same.
The situation is similar for Familiprix Extra Philippe Leng in Richmond.
Delivery services are offered but it was emphasized that if floor products are needed, they need to be ordered with at the same time as a prescription to be sent out altogether.
If a prescription needs to be renewed, it is suggested to call and wait at least two hours to pick it up to reduce the amount of time spent in the store.
They are working hard to encourage people, especially those who 70 and over, to stay home and to take advantage of the delivery service.
“There are two reasons why we don’t have senior’s hours,” said Familiprix’s Director of Human Resources Pierre Piché. “It invites them to come out and to not use the delivery which puts them in danger and the health organization said it’s not necessarily safe to put them all in the same place at the same time. We want them to stay home and we will deliver.”