Safeway, Oliver's among grocery stores offering seniors-only hours, curbside pick-up during pandemic

Trader Joe's, Safeway, Whole Foods Market and other local stores have set up hours for seniors and people with underlying medical conditions to shop away from crowds during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trader Joe's announced that it would dedicate its first hour of operation to customers over the age of 60 or with disabilities starting March 30, from 8 to 9 a.m. for Sonoma County stores. None of the locations in Sonoma County are offering curbside pick up or delivery options. Find more information on the chain's website.

Safeway has announced that it is reserving its stores from opening to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers who need to shop away from crowds. Delivery from Safeway is available and some locations are offering pick up for customers.

"During those times, we ask that you avoid shopping so that the stores can be available for senior citizens, and other at-risk members of our community such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems," Safeway said in a statement on its Facebook Page.

Whole Foods Market throughout Sonoma County are opening their doors an hour before opening to the general public from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. every day for customers who are 60 years and older, according to the company website. Stores have adjusted hours to allow employees to spend more time on sanitization and cleaning. Whole Foods and Amazon are working together to expand free two-hour delivery for members of Amazon Prime. None of the Sonoma County locations are providing pick up as of March 31, although the company says it is working to increase pick up availability. Click here for more information, and click here for a list of store locations and hours.

Target is reserving its first hour every Tuesday and Wednesday for customers over 65 and people with underlying medical conditions, according to its website. All Sonoma County stores will open to these shoppers from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Target offers pick up through Guest Services inside the store. Drive-up orders are also an option for customers, although not all items are eligible. Delivery from stores is not available in Sonoma County, but customers can still order most items online.

Oliver's Market has shortened its hours to the general public to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Seniors and other at-risk customers can shop from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. every day. It also is offering seniors a 10% discount, according its website. None of the Sonoma County offer pickup or delivey services.

Sonoma Market (500 W. Napa St., Sonoma) will offer senior hours from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 24. During that time, anyone who is at least 65 years old or has a medical condition can shop. Sonoma Market is not offering pick up or delivery services. Click here for more information.

Petaluma Market is opening its doors at 6 a.m. for seniors and people who are immunocompromised to shop, according to its website. It will also be closing an hour early, at 8 p.m. Pick up and delivery options are not available through the store.

Walgreens allows shoppers 55 years and older to have an hour to shop every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Select items are available for curbside pick up during regular hours and shipping is free. Find more information on the chain's website.

Walmart announced March 18 that it is allowing seniors 60 years and older to shop an hour before stores open every Tuesday through April 28. The chain offers pick up and delivery options for most items. Find more information on its website.

Costco will have special hours for seniors (60+) on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. beginning March 24. In-store pick up is available, as well as same-day pickup for perishable items and two-day delivery for non-perishables. Find more information here.

Raley's is not offering special hours but is assembling bags of groceries for seniors available for store pickup beginning on Saturday, March 21. Seniors have two options: a $20-bag of groceries that includes produce and pantry items or a $35-bag that includes ready-to-eat meals. The groceries will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and people will be limited to one bag per family per day. Timeslots for delivery and pick up options have been expanded. Get more information here.

Lucky is open 6 a.m. to 9 am for seniors on Tuesday and Thursdays, including its pharmacy. Home delivery through Instacart and curbside pick up are both available for those who are hoping to avoid an in-person shopping trip.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has compiled a list of grocery stores that deliver or provide curbside pick-up. Click here for the list.

Although these hours are intended to keep people at higher risk of coronavirus away from crowds, some experts also have expressed concern that the stores could be overcrowded at these hours as well.

If you're worried, it's best to have a family member or friend shop for you, Dr. Alysa Krain, who specializes in geriatric medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, told The Washington Post.

"It was a good idea in general, but it's a little bit dangerous if it's not controlled," Krain told the publication.

The Press Democrat wants to know what stories you see emerging and what you're experiencing locally during the shelter-in-place order. Reach out to us at coronavirus@pressdemocrat.com.