We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone right now, especially for parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Our nation is facing an unprecedented public health crisis and it has resulted in schools being closed and many companies ordering their employees to work from home. Some companies have even laid off their employees or furloughed them, and Pennsylvania now leads the nation in the number of unemployment claims that have been filed. The ripple effects of this pandemic have impacted the daily life every single child, adult, and family.

Governor Wolf and Dr. Levine, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health have asked every Pennsylvania to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying at home and practicing social distancing. As a result, parents, grandparents, and caregivers are now taking care of their children and grandchildren 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—without reprieve. That means many are acting as their child’s teacher and playmate, while working from home trying to fulfill their obligations to their own employer as well as taking care of regular household duties like cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. The to-do list is endless!

By not being able to send children or grandchildren to school, daycare, or on a playdate, we’ve heard that many parents and grandparents are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Simple tasks like going to the grocery store have now become a burden. This has led to many wondering whether or not children should be permitted into the grocery stores, particularly when the stores are offering special hours for senior citizens. We understand that many parents and grandparents don’t have a choice in this matter—they are the sole caregivers for the children in their lives and very often, the children they are caring for are too young to be left at home alone.

Many grocery stores are now offering curbside pickup—that’s where you order food online, drive to the store, and they bring the items out to your car. You don’t have to step foot inside of the store! And, other grocery stores are offering online delivery, which means you can shop for your groceries online and have them delivered right to your front door. If you decide to do online grocery shopping so you can avoid having to go to the store, you will need to visit the store’s website and type in your zip code. After that, the store will confirm whether or not they do curbside pickup and/or delivery service according to your address. Then, once you get confirmation that your grocery store offers these services, you will need to put the items you want into your online shopping cart, pick a time when you want to pick up your groceries or have them delivered, and purchase the items. It’s very simple!

With these expanded options that grocery stores are offering, we also wanted to put together a list of resources for you that could help. We also know that some of you may be dealing with food insecurity issues, so we compiled a list of resources below where you can obtain free food for your family. Please never hesitate to reach out and ask for help when you are in need.

Grocery Stores

Harrisburg/York/Lancaster

GIANT
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Peapod
Weis Markets
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery
Wegmans
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Whole Foods
Offers online delivery of groceries if you are an Amazon Prime member
Walmart
Offers grocery curbside pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Karns Quality Foods
Offers online delivery services through Instacart and Shipt
Save a Lot
Does not offer grocery curbside pickup or deliver

Erie Region

Wegmans
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Walmart
Most Walmart Supercenters offer grocery pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services
Giant Eagle
Offers grocery curbside pickup
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
TOPS Markets
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart

Pittsburgh

Shop-n-Save
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Walmart
Most Walmart Supercenters offer grocery pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services
Giant Eagle
Offers grocery curbside pickup
Trader Joe’s
Does not offer grocery curbside pickup or deliver
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Whole Foods
Offers online delivery of groceries if you are an Amazon Prime member
The Fresh Market
Offers online delivery through Instacart
Fresh Thyme
Offers online delivery through Instacart

Philadelphia

GIANT
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Peapod
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Whole Foods
Offers online delivery of groceries if you are an Amazon Prime member
Wegmans
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Trader Joe’s
Does not offer grocery curbside pickup or deliver
ShopRite
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery
The Fresh Market
Offers online delivery through Instacart
Walmart
Most Walmart Supercenters offer grocery pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services

Wilkes Barre/Scranton

GIANT
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Peapod
Weis Markets
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Wegmans
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Walmart
Most Walmart Supercenters offer grocery pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services

Allentown/Lehigh Valley

GIANT
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Peapod
Weis Markets
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery
Aldi
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
The Fresh Market
Offers online delivery through Instacart
Whole Foods
Offers online delivery of groceries if you are an Amazon Prime member
Wegmans
Offers grocery curbside pickup and online delivery through Instacart
Walmart
Most Walmart Supercenters offer grocery pickup
Some Stores are even offering delivery services

Free Food Resources

• Erie
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia
• Philabundance and the Share Food Program
• Reading Terminal Free Delivery 16 Miles
• Food Pantries in Philadelphia
• Generocity has also provided an exhaustive list of food resources that are available throughout the region.
• Harrisburg and Central PA Region
• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
• Lancaster County Food Hub
• York County Food Bank
• Wilkes-Barre and Scranton
• Keystone Mission
• The City of Scranton has provided an exhaustive list of food resources that are available throughout the region.
• Luzerne County has an online list of food pantries and banks in the county.
• Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank
• Lehigh Valley
• Allentown Food Bank
• United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has provided an exhaustive list of food resources that are available throughout the region.
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Pittsburgh
• Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank
• 412 Food Rescue
• NEXT Pittsburgh has provided an exhaustive list of food resources that are available throughout the region.