New World to work with Student Volunteer Army as shopping aids for elderly, vulnerable customers

Thursday, 2 April 2020

New World is starting a service for students to volunteer as personal shoppers for the elderly and vulnerable during the lockdown.

The Kiwi supermarket chain piloted the service with the Student Volunteer Army at New World Ilam in Christchurch and has donated to the group to enable the service to be expanded nationwide. It will roll out in stores owned by New World in Auckland and Dunedin this week.

Customers who are unable to leave their homes during the alert level four lockdown can select and pay for their groceries via a custom-built website, or call in their order to a call centre.

A local member of the Student Volunteer Army will then shop for, collect and deliver their groceries direct to their door.

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Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson said the delivery service was contactless to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.

'We wanted to do something that will help our elderly and vulnerable keep themselves safe from Covid-19 during this difficult time,' Johnson said.

'While volunteers are shopping, they will be adhering to the strict physical distancing protocols in place at New World.'

Last week Foodstuffs, the owner of New World, announced it would prioritise entry to shops for any emergency service or medical professionals wearing their uniform or carrying district health board, medical centre or other identification.

Its competitor, Countdown, announced it was prioritising home delivery of groceries to vulnerable customers.

Shoppers can apply for priority assistance if they are over 70, have chronic illnesses or disabilities that make it hard to shop in stores.

The Student Volunteer Army is also providing services to look after a healthcare worker's family's self-isolating group.

The volunteer can only go from their own home and the healthcare worker's home to look after children while the country is in lockdown.

There could only be one volunteer per household to avoid a larger bubble of multiple self-isolating groups forming, Johnson said.

'They can come in and play with the kids, look after them and just provide some relief,' he said.

All volunteers are screened and reference-checked.