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THURSDAY, APR IL 30, 2020 • KOKOMO TR IBUNE / PHAROS-TR IBUNE
LAURA ARWOOD
KOKOMO TRIBUNE
J
essica Heath has been working at
Waddell’s IGA in Russiaville as a
cashier and deli clerk for three
years, coming up on four in June.
Heath, a Ball State University
graduate, said working at Waddell’s
was flexible while she was a student,
and has been a great place to work
since graduating.
While Waddell’s, a family-owned
grocery store, usually has a steady
flow of regular customers, things have
changed quite a bit in the past month
or so, Heath said. Since the COVID-
19 pandemic hit Indiana, consumers
began panic buying some items in bulk,
wiping out entire chain stores. Wad-
dell’s was no exception.
“That first Monday when it hit, after
when they started saying everything
was going to be shut down, it was crazy
in the store. It was probably one of our
biggest days,” she said. “I’m not sure if
I’ve ever seen that many people in the
store. The couple of weeks after that
were busy, because we had toilet paper,
then all of a sudden we didn’t. We had
such and such, and all of a sudden, we
didn’t.”
The regular customers were sud-
denly outnumbered by new faces from
Kokomo and elsewhere. The store
began making adjustments, changing
their hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., to
keep shelves stocked, reduce employee
exposure and to keep the customers
safe, Heath said.
“It’s been crazy but our customers
are really loyal and they spread the
word that we have things. Or, that we’re
working with you if we can’t get it right
away,” she said. “We have people com-
ing from Kokomo that haven’t been
here, I’ve seen a lot of people here that
have never been to Russiaville before.
They come in, we get them stuff, we do
what we can.”
Heath said that while she does get
nervous about the coronavirus, she
feels a lot more secure because of the
steps taken to ensure safety at the
store. Cashiers wear gloves and plexi-
glass was installed in front of the cash
registers a few weeks ago.
“That actually has been really nice
because everyone feels better,” she
said. “(The plexiglass) works pretty
well. It keeps our distance away from
customers and I think everybody’s
starting to get onto the fact to (keep
distance).”
Regularly wiping down work spaces
and high-traffic spots, like the ATM,
freezer doors and door handles, about
every hour gives Heath peace of mind
not only for herself, but for the custom-
ers. For some customers, coming to the
store is dangerous or difficult at this
time, and Waddell’s is doing what they
can to work with those customers.
“A lot of the customers, especially
the customers in Russiaville, they’re
a little older, so we’ve been taking
orders to make things easier,” she said.
“(Store owners) Jon and Julie are really
great about this. We do deliver to some
people who are really in need. They get
with Jon and Julie, and we can make it
work for those special circumstances.
We’ve been doing some curbside pick-
ups if they call ahead, we can usually
accommodate that.”
In addition to curbside pick-up,
ready-to-go food is available in the deli,
and family-size meals are available in
a hot bar at the front of the store for
people who don’t want to go all the way
in the store. This offers a quick, get in
and get out option, she said.
Not only is Waddell’s a small-town
grocery with a homey feel, the employ-
ees are like family. Heath said in her
case, the staff is family, because her
mom works there as well. Additionally,
she’s become close with some of the
regulars at the store.
“Whether you’re blood or not, all of
us who work here are pretty close. We
just clicked immediately,” she said.
“It’s nice because we’re close enough
and then our customers come in and
we know them by name, which I love.
I love when they come in and I’m
like, ‘Hey Lynn, how are things going
today?’ It’s a really cool thing.”
KEEPING PEOPLE FED
Waddell’s cashier loves helping customers, even in pandemic
Jessica
Heath
works at
Waddell’s
IGA in
Russiaville.
Grocery
stores
have been
one of the
essential
businesses
open
during the
COVID-19
pandemic.
Photo by Tim Bath
