Groceries

[chasingtides]

I am trying to figure out groceries shopping and figured I would ask for advice

Comments

[eileen_donovan]

I feel for you. I had the same problem and used to go into the store for just a few items and/or buy things from a convenience store just to tide me over.

Could you, perhaps, buy non-perishables (peanut butter, crackers, etc.) from Amazon, then make several small trips for milk, eggs and so on? And are there organic food delivery services in your area? I'm in L.A. and there are several services that'll deliver veggies, fruit, eggs weekly.

Good luck to you!

[chasingtides]

Organic delivery services?

[eileen_donovan]

Like this: http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/?gclid=CPf_vaj2jrQCFQuCQgodr3wAQA

[lakmiseiru]

Oh, good point - something like a CSA that you can maybe pay a bit extra to have them deliver to your house, especially if you explain the need.

If there are convenience or corner stores nearer your residence (e.g. 7-11 or Cumberland Farms or gas station stores), they often carry milk and eggs.

[lakmiseiru]

Not sure about getting them home... can you use a wheeled cart (your ability, curb cuts, etc) to roll them home? Get an accessible transport service or taxi or bus? Get a friend who shops weekly to pick things up for you? Maybe you can order dried/canned goods through something like Amazon (shipped via postal mail here in the States, they only have to do Amazon Fresh for perishables) and then carry only the perishables (dairy products, meat, veggies/fruit or whatever subset of those you eat) home to lighten the load, since canned/bulk goods (other than milk) are usually heavier

[chasingtides]

I have stairs to where I live, so wheeled carts (or my wheelchair) are pretty out of the question, sadly.

I might try asked for help with shopping though. If nothing else, that could work.

[quiet000001]

It might actually be worth just calling your local supermarket - they may know if there are any services in the area that help people who are disabled (or more often they're aimed at the elderly) get groceries since they'll tend to see the people who do the shopping for the services quite frequently, sometimes buying multiple baskets at a time, etc. It might be a volunteer thing or it might be a paid service, depending on where you are and what's available, but it seems worth asking.

(Note that this might depend somewhat on your local supermarket, I will admit. My local one is a chain but it's small enough and enough of the staff has been there for ages that they notice things like that. I don't know if a more 'generic' type place would have someone who'd know the same info since it's not really a store service.)

[nightengalesknd]

Admittedly, I have a certain reputation when it comes to luggage racks. But I used to use a milk-crate bungeed to a folding luggage rack, both for getting around the store and getting home. Separated, both the crate and rack can hang over an arm or be pulled up steps via bungee. Walking 10 blocks with cane and luggage rack was not ideal, but certainly better than cane and carry, and the luggage rack was solid enough to stop and rest holding onto. I thought about taking the contraption on a city bus but don't think I ever did. The Blue Bus was another story. . .

[sayga]

I used a luggage rack for laundry because I couldn't carry the basket across the parking lot at our apartment to the laundry room. It worked really well. Now we have a washer/dryer so my husband carries the baskets up and down the stairs for me and he does the laundry switching, and I do the folding and putting away.

When I've walked to the grocery store, I've used a stroller, a wagon, and a luggage rack to get the groceries home. Things you can push in front work a lot better than things I have to pull behind me (in my experience), but wheels are a great way to get stuff around.

[zandperl]

Can you go to the customer service desk and ask for assistance?
Can you advertise on Craigslist for an assistant with groceries? They could either go with you, or get the groceries and bring them back.

[chasingtides]

Well, the issue with advertising for help is that then I'm paying for groceries and paying someone to get them - more than basic delivery charges, most likely, since I find it unlikely that anyone over 10 is going to look at "If I give you ten dollars, purchase and delivery my groceries!" - that's most definitely out of my price range for groceries and the month.

[manutde]