There are several grocery stores that have now offered exclusive hours for shoppers who are over 65 years old.

This is because many of them fear going into crowded places right now to get their shopping done.

The change in hours for seniors also gives those seniors a chance to get their goods without having to wrestle them from the large crowds that have been heading to the stores lately.

I think this is a great idea that stores have implemented and I expect that in the coming days even more might make this small change to help the senior community in various places.

• One grocery store that was the first in Canada to implement the change was the Belmont Sobeys, they referred to the change as Golden Shopping Hour which offers seniors a chance to come in and shop starting at 6 in the morning.

• Another market in California has now done the same thing offering shopping from 7:30 to 8:00 in the morning for seniors exclusively.

• In Australia, Woolworths has gone and done the same.

They are already trying to get more markets to adopt this solution, to try and help elderly customers get what they need at the beginning of the day.

One elderly couple that had been too scared to go in and do their shopping allegedly waited for almost an hour in their car, in the grocery store parking lot, before they could find someone passing by to help.

They were able to find someone who was willing to help them eventually. But it demonstrates a need that many might be suffering with right now, seniors who are unable to get their basic goods. Now, more stores are responding to that need to try and help.

Aside from offering those special hours for seniors, grocery stores are also cutting hours in many places too, in an effort to try and give their employees time to rest and restock.

Every single person who is out there and showing up to work daily, to fill the shelves for the rest of us deserves our gratitude.

There are many who are going to be struggling in the days and weeks to come, especially children who don't get those daily meals at school.

Food banks are suffering as well, they are already reporting that they've been running low on supplies and it's likely that even more people will be needing them in the coming weeks or months.

Now is the time not just to think of ourselves and our own needs, but those of our community as well and to offer help in any way that we can. There are many places right now that are in desperate need of donations and volunteer help as well.

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