Richmond grocery store employees were among others in B.C. who received a surprise last week.
Staff with B.C.’s Accent Inns and Hotel Zed gave away free stays at Hotel Zed to grocery store employees as thanks for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richmond’s Superstore and PriceSmart were among a few stores that the company visited.
Trina Notman, vice president of marketing and communications at Accent Ins and Hotel Zed, said grocery store workers “deserve the recognition” just as much as other employees in the medical and education industries have received.
“They don’t get the fanfare that teachers and nurses get, yet they are showing up every day to work during the pandemic,” said Notman.
“They’re exhausted and we heard them loud and clear, so we’re offering them a place to stay and rest.”
According to Notman, the initiative began when the company’s staff wanted to help local workers in need. It started with teachers at local schools, then transit drivers and now grocery store employees.
The staff, she said, felt the need to help those in the community and the “pure surprise and delight” on people’s faces just brightens the day.
“If we see someone or hear about someone in need, we’ll give it to them and they don’t even know we’re coming. It makes our staff feel good, especially as we go through the pandemic.”
Accent Inns and Hotel Zed launched its “Hotels for Frontline Workers’ Fund” in collaboration with United Way of Southern Vancouver Island to help essential workers isolate in its hotels since March 2020.
They have also handed out discounts and gift cards to local schools and bus drivers.
