Open Letter (Derie Keene Shipmon)

Open Letter (Derie Keene Shipmon)

 

Dear Customer,

The past few months have been incredibly challenging for the entire world. The pandemic has affected us all in a myriad of ways – uniquely heavy as our individual loads to bear. No matter where any of us stand in regards to this, society as a whole is in flux as new norms impact how we are accustomed to navigating our day to day lives.

I have personally opted to self-quarantine with my family out of concern that I could be the stepping stone for COVID-19, completing a chain of contact that could cause suffering to someone else. This has not been an easy decision and daily I am confronted with the fact that while my team, friends and extended family of loved ones brave the front lines of the pandemic daily (even as I write this) – I am safe at home.

Sevananda has been a pillar of health for decades – the vanguards of health, heavily rooted in the vegan and vegetarian way of life. And though we have met and overcome our fair share of challenges it has been during this pandemic that some of our brightest stars have begun to shine. Our staff has shrunk in numbers and simultaneously has grown (exponentially) as a team, essentially shining a light through these crazy and somewhat dark times… I am humbled.

As of lately your produce department has primarily been kept alive by three produce specialists: Chef Akil Amen, Matthew Mickell and Tuamutef Ani. The contributions of these three have been nothing less than stellar in spite of the times and in lieu of my absence. Though I work remotely – they are nothing less but the ties that bind your produce department together, maintaining an organic fresh produce department while, just like the rest of the world, negotiate the plethora of inconveniences that flail about our lives like some ragged assimilation of normal. They make me proud to be a part of their team.

And for those of you who are long time members and shoppers to those of you who are new to our Coop, I want you to know that without you there would not be a Sevananda. We value you not only as a customer but for being part of the culture that Sevananda stands for. You are our family as well – you are truly cherished. We want you to rest assured that we will continue holding the line for healthy living, as we have for over 40 years – committed to the culture, committed to you.

Derie Keene Shipmon
Sevananda Produce Manager

 


Helping Hand, Support Our Staff

To ALL who have offered to support our staff who are still working diligently on the front lines, thank you for your generous donations. For those who would still like to support Sevananda Staff, please note that ALL SevTNet funds or Be The Change round up dollars collected to date, HAVE NOT yet been disbursed. 

During the Covid19 pandemic, we will continue to raise funds for our staff and allow the fund to grow. All donations to SevTNet and round up will go directly to staff for their essential needs. We’ll announce when that happens so everyone who donated will know where their dollars went. Until then we’re continuing to allow the fund to grow to cover essential needs for 75+ employees. And thanks to you it’s growing!

Sevananda staff are still on the front-lines and doing their best to make sure the store is sustained daily and that we service everyone who comes through our doors!  We have figured out some of the new store operations, but other aspects we are still in process. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation. 

 If you want to help support our hard-working staff while they are on the front line servicing you and other member-owners and community members other members of our community, please feel free to donate here !! Your donations will be distributed fairly and directly to each staff member.

Thank you again and we sincerely appreciate your support of Sevananda Natural Foods Market, your local community co-op!


Attention: Water refills temporarily discontinued

Attention: Water refills temporarily discontinued

Sevananda Water Refill

Stations are still closed for customer refills. Shoppers can purchase empty one gallon containers and fill them at their leisure. We are anticipating the middle of June for all of the new safeguards to hopefully be in place for a return to Self Service refills of all water bottle sizes.

Water we will be selling consist of the following:

  • Cha water 5 gallons , 3 gallons , 1 gallons, 33 oz bottles , and 16 oz bottles.
  • Sevananda water 5 gallons , 1 gallons , 16 oz bottles, and 33 oz bottles.
  • All other brands of package water with limitation to two cases
  • Pure ah fresh 1 gallon waters limited to 3 at purchase time
  • All 5 gallons and 3 gallon waters are limited to two at purchase time

“Empty Jugs of Sevananda Water or Cha water may be returned for deposit Only!”

Attention: New Store Policies

Attention: New Store Policies

Store hours

10 am – 8 pm

We want to thank everyone for patiently working with us we go through these trying times. We are here to serve you in every way that we can. Changes are being made to accommodate you with what you may need and/or want and we are doing our best to make sure you can get it. Changes are also being made almost everyday to protect you and our staff members.
We appreciate you in advance for your continuous support !

Sevananda will begin social distancing protocols to further preserve and protect our Sevananda community and family.  We will begin to limit instore capacity as well as critical new parameters on water purchasing, refills, and returns. (Please carefully read details below)

WE’RE KEEPIN’ EVERYTHING CLEAN

Current sanitation procedures:

  • Counter and pen pads wiped down regularly with bleach
  • Workers will sanitize hands as often as possible
  • Hand baskets and cart handles will be cleaned as often as possible
  • Door handles frequently sanitized
  • Reusable containers no longer allowed
  • Bottle returns not accepted
  • Please use our hand sanitizer dispensers in the store:
  • Near the registers above the hand baskets
  • Column beside grocery carts
  • Next to the bulk herb station

HOW YOU CAN HELP

  • Be patient and kind
  • Do not enter the store if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibit any flu symptoms
  • Only come in if you truly need to
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after entering
  • Bring your own bag and help bag your own groceries if you are able
  • Pay with credit/debit if possible to limit cash handling
  • Try to only touch the produce you are going to buy

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

PRODUCE

  • We will not have produce specials for the time being.
  • Salad mix and bulk spinach are now prepackaged and will remain so for the foreseeable future.  At this time, no other produce items will be prepackaged.
  • Our produce distributor is beginning to run out of produce, so while we’ve done an incredible job so far of maintaining our displays, there are going to be outages without advanced notice.

GROCERY / BULK

  • Containers from home have been suspended for all bulk  items.  Please use our provided plastic containers or bags.
  • Nut butters, miso, etc have all been prepackaged.
  • Reusable bottles no longer allowed
  • Bottle returns for refund only.

WELLNESS

  • Many of our direct herb and supplement vendors are really backed up due to overwhelming volume, so expect out of stocks without an ETA.

DELI

  • Extra grab n go meals and items are being prepared and now available, due to postponement of Hot Bar Service,
  • For your convenience basic salads are being made available in the bakery case
  • Bakery items continue to be available in the bakery case and in the wall case near hot bar
  • Self-serve coffee will no longer be available.

The following Self-Services are on hold until further notice

Salad Bar (salads in cold case)

Soup Service ( in grab n go case)

Coffee Service

 

Board of Directors Elections

Sevananda Natural Food Co-operative is Now accepting applications for candidates for the Board of Directors.
March 9th – April 18th
If you are a member-owner in good standing, current in your membership with the skills and experience to help Sevananda fulfill its mission, then you should consider service with Sevananda Board of Directors.

Please pick up a Candidate Packet from Customer Service. Any question can be directed to Cheranna Dottin, Board Administrator (Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm)