List of resources to help seniors get groceries and prescriptions

Many businesses and organizations are offering delivery and drive-through services to help seniors and those who are at-risk reduce contact and still find the essentials they need. Read on for a growing list of resources including free prescription delivery, free curbside grocery pick-up, grocery delivery options and food pantry assistance.

Posted 10:08 p.m. Mar 24, 2020 — Updated 11:05 p.m. Mar 26, 2020

During this coronavirus outbreak, senior citizens and those at-risk because of certain health conditions are considered to be very high risk and are encouraged to avoid public places. This includes staying out of grocery stores, drug stores and pharmacies.

Many businesses and organizations are offering delivery and drive-through services to help seniors reduce contact and still find the essentials they need. Read on for a growing list of resources including free prescription delivery, free curbside grocery pick-up, grocery delivery options and food pantry assistance.

Drug Stores Offering Prescription Delivery

CVS

CVS is waiving charges for home delivery of prescription medications so people at higher risk can stay home as much as possible. You can also add other products from the store, although their website indicates that stock is low on some items. See the details about free prescription delivery service on their website HERE.

CVS is also delivering products from the store through Instacart for same-day delivery. See the details on their website HERE.

Walgreens

Walgreens is offering free shipping on all prescription refills. They are also offering free shipping of products with no minimum. See the details on their website HERE.

Carroll Pharmacy in Smithifield

Carroll Pharmacy in Smithifield offers free home delivery within their delivery area. See the details on their website HERE.

Davis Drug in Kenly

Davis Drug in Kenly offers free prescription delivery within 10 miles of their store. They usually deliver prescriptions the same day if you call before noon. See the details on their website HERE.

Falls River Pharmacy

Falls River Pharmacy offers free delivery to Raleigh area residents. This service includes prescription and/or over-the-counter items and is available same day. They also offer drive thru. Contact them at 919-844-2055 and see details at www.fallsriverpharmacy.com.

Hayes Barton Pharmacy

Hayes Barton Pharmacy offers free delivery to Raleigh area residents. This service includes prescription and/or over-the-counter items and is available same day. They also offer curbside pick-up. Contact them at 919-832-4641 (phone), 984-205-3918 (Direct text) or see details at www.hayesbartonpharmacy.com.

Health Park Pharmacy

Health Park Pharmacy offers free delivery to Raleigh area residents. This service includes prescription and/or over-the-counter items and is available same day. They also offer curbside pick-up. Contact them at 919-847-7645 and see details at www.healthparkpharmacy.com.

HealthSmart Pharmacy in Wake Forest

HealthSmart Pharmacy in Wake Forest is offering free delivery in Wake Forest and surrounding area. Their hours are Monday - Friday from 9 am - 7 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Address is 2001 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, 27587. Phone is 919-569-0550.

HealthSmart Pharmacies

There are multiple HealthSmart Pharmacies in the area that offer free delivery within a 10 mile radius of their stores. See the details on their website.

Hillsborough Pharmacy and Nutrition in Hillsborough

Hillsborough Pharmacy and Nutrition in Hillsborough offers free prescription delivery. Monday - Friday. See additional information on their website HERE.

Grocery Stores Offering Delivery, Curbside Pick-Up or Dedicated Shopping Options

Although many grocery stores offer delivery, their stock is low right now and all items will not be available. Personal shoppes will do their best to substitute products, but keep in mind that not all items are in stock.

List: Stores offering dedicated shopping hours for seniors

Aldi

Aldi offers grocery delivery through Instacart. They are currently offering free delivery on the first 3 orders of $35 or more when you use the coupon code SHOPALDI20 at checkout. See the details on their website HERE.

Big Lots

Big Lots is offering curbside delivery and they will bring the online order out to your car. See the details on their website HERE.

Carlie C's

Carlie C's is offering free delivery to customers over the age of 65 when you place a $100 online grocery order and use the promo code love65 at checkout through June 30, 2020. You have to live in one of their delivery areas in order to receive free delivery. To place an online order, go to their website at www.carliecs.com HERE. You can see this offer posted on their Facebook page HERE.

Costco

Costco offers same day delivery through Instacart. See their website HERE for details and fees.

Food Lion

Food Lion offers delivery and pickup through their website HERE.

According to their website, "For orders greater than $35, the fee is $3.99, or $5.99 to have the order delivered within an hour. For orders less than $35, fee is $7.99 or $9.99 to have the order delivered within an hour. And your first time placing a delivery order is FREE! These prices are subject to change. Please keep in mind that all delivery orders must be $10 or more. In addition, there is delivery service fee which is 5% of your order. When we experience high demand for a delivery time, the fee for delivery may be higher. Fees for each delivery will be displayed when selecting a delivery window during checkout, before you place your order. These prices are subject to change."

Dollar General

Dollar General is asking customers to let seniors shop during the first hour of business each day. They are trying to offer a less crowded shopping experience those at a higher risk during this coronavirus outbreak.

Dollar General asking customers to let seniors shop during the first hour of business each day

Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter offers same day delivery or pick-up. There is a $4.95 shopping fee, plus orders totaling $50.00 or more have a $9.95 delivery fee and orders totaling under $50.00 have an $11.95 delivery fee. See the details on their website HERE.

Lidl

Lidl offers delivery through Shipt HERE. There is a membership fee required.

Lowes Foods

Lowes Foods offers online ordering and grocery pick-up at the store. See the details on their website HERE. The fee is $4.95 per order or $99 annual membership.

Publix

Publix offers delivery and curbside pick-up so you do not have to go in to the store. They are managed by Instacart. See the fees and details on their website HERE.

Sam's Club

Sam's Club is offering a new concierge service for senior and at-risk members. "During special shopping hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., at-risk members can shop Sam’s Club without ever leaving their car. From a designated parking location, members in need can place their order from their car, and a Sam’s Club associate will grab the items on the list." See the details on their website.

Target

Target offers grocery delivery through Shipt. See the details and delivery fees on their website HERE. They are also dedicating the first hour of shopping every Wednesday to those at greater risk of serious illness during this outbreak. In an e-mail to customers on March 18, 2020, Target wrote, "We’ll also reserve the first hour of shopping each Wednesday to support vulnerable guests, including the elderly and those with underlying health concerns."

Target reducing hours and reserving first hour on Wednesdays to at-risk guests

Walmart

Walmart offers free curbside grocery pickup. See the details and place an order at their website HERE. Make sure you chose the store closest to you.

Wegmans

Wegmans offers curbside pick-up and delivery through Instacart. See the details and fees on their website HERE.

Community Organizations Offering Help to Seniors

Community of Hope Ministries, Garner, NC

Community of Hope Ministries at 601 St. Mary's St. in Garner is offering a drive-thru Food Pantry during specific hours and days so people, including seniors, do not have to get out of their cars. You do not need to sign up ahead of time to come to the pantry and there is no cost. The food pantry will be distributing food during these hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays – 11:00am-12:00pm

3rd Thursday of every month – 6:00-7:00pm

See the details, including items that are usually included in the bag of donations, on their website HERE.

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina has a Food Finder for those who are need of food assistance. You can enter in your zip code and it will show the food pantry locations closest to you as well as ht ehours of operation. See the information on the Food Bank website HERE.

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving in Wake County

Volunteers trained and vetted by The Center for Volunteer Caregiving are available to do grocery store/pharmacy shopping or pick-ups for adults 65+ and adults with disabilities 18-65 who cannot navigate the online ordering system and who cannot leave their home or do not want to leave their home at this time. For anyone who needs this service and who is not already a client of The Center, they have modified their registration process. Call 919-460-0567 and speak with any of The Center's staff.

This service is available for Wake County residents only. The services provided by The Center are free.

In addition, their volunteers can provide telephone check-ins for anyone who needs reassurance and a friendly voice. They have modified the registration process for this service as well until the pandemic passes.

Their volunteers provide other services such as friendly visiting, light housekeeping, telecare, transportation to medical appointments and basic needs shops, and caregiver respite, but most of these services are on hold for a few weeks during the pandemic.

They are also looking for volunteers to help those in need, if you are looking for a way to help out during this pandemic.

Learn more about their services at www.volunteercaregiving.org.

Additional Resources

Senior Living Communities Shopping for Residents

Many senior living communities are offering to shop for their residents or help them order groceries online for delivery. If you or a loved one lives in a retirement community, ask if this service is available.

Jennifer Earp, the Executive Director at Preston Pointe in Morrisville, NC indicated that they are helping residents order groceries and have them delivered or Preston Pointe staff will pick the groceries up for them.

"We understand the impact of social distancing on our residents and are helping them to continue with necessary activities like grocery shopping. We’ve provided online shopping forms to stores such as Food Lion, Walmart, and Target, which allows them to shop from the convenience of their home. If they need assistance, we place the order for them, and either have the items delivered or we pick them up from local stores.

As many others are experiencing, finding certain items can be a challenge so we have utilized our resources and vendors to stock the Preston Pointe market (inside our lobby) with high demand items, like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, hand soap, bread, etc. This allows our residents to be able to “shop” internally as opposed to venturing out, a much safer option. Our goal in doing all of this, truly, is for the safety of our residents but to also try to provide some feeling of normalcy as well. We are continuing to look for ways to assist our residents through all of this," shared Ms. Earp.

Neighbors and Friends

Don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for help if you are in a high risk group. On the NextDoor neighborhood website for my area, many of the people posting have indicated that they are happy to pick up items for those who are elderly, disabled or at higher risk for any reason.

If you know of any other organizations offering help, please send the details and contact information for the organization to saving@smartspendingresources.com.

Grocery stores begin returning to regular operating hours