By Doug McDevitt

In October of 1929 a national catastrophe occurred when the stock market crashed putting millions of Americans out of work and causing absolute uncertainty about what was to come. For the next three and a half years, Americans struggled to survive. In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected the 32nd president of the United States. During his inaugural address, one phrase captured the nation and gave its people hope for the future. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” FDR’s intention with that statement was to demonstrate a complete rejection of the national paralysis that was gripping the land. Today, FDR’s quotation resonates into our own time, and while there is certainly something to fear other than fear itself, much of what we see happening today is driven by fear. So, how are we coping?

A lesser known figure—another grocery store manager—once said to me, “A grocery store is like an airport, everything lands there.” After over 35 years in the industry, I couldn’t agree more. Everyone has to have food, so grocery store managers see the complete spectrum of a community, all the variables, good and bad. In fact, anyone wishing to enter the fields of psychiatry or psychology should be required to spend a year as a grocery store manager. A food store is a good observation platform to view how our community is handling the stress of the coronavirus pandemic.

“You’re horrible, it’s terrible, there are cigarette butts in the parking lot, and they all have the coronavirus on them!” was a rather stern rebuke from a customer at the very beginning of this crisis. While the chance that every cigarette butt on the ground was contaminated was highly unlikely, the complaint demonstrated the depth of concern that was beginning to grip our community—and we did sweep the sidewalk.

Usually, the talk at the checkout lines is a patchwork of multiple topics from foreign affairs to finance to the latest victory of the masked singer and everything in between. Now it is only about the pandemic. Our community is reflective of the nation as a whole, and the opinions about what is going on are as diverse as what we hear in the media, but the actions of our neighbors are heartening to say the least. Whereas in the past if a particular brand was not available, people would go without, now we see people becoming adaptive and improvising. Alternatives are sought out as the supply chain becomes more stressed. Yeast and flour are becoming hard to find as people are rediscovering how to bake bread—there are a lot of really great-smelling households right now.

People are also helping others in need, with both organizations and individuals taking it upon themselves to deliver for neighbors that are unable to shop for themselves. There is a joviality in the aisles; even as most customers maintain the social distancing requirements and diligently follow the taped arrows on the floor, they are still smiling and laughing as they stop and chat. The strength and determination to overcome are clearly evident.

The workers in my store have adapted a new attitude as well. While a grocery store has always been a social gathering hub, the other underappreciated function is as a center for critical supplies during an emergency, usually weather-related and short-term. The workers in a grocery store have always sacrificed during these events, making themselves available for long stretches to replenish stock, but they have never received  recognition for it. That is happening now during this sustained “snow event.” Thanks to that appreciation and gratitude from the community, the workers have a feeling of importance and pride in what they are doing that has never been so evident. They feel appreciated.

 Now as in 1933, we do have much more to fear than fear itself, but the fear alone is a major component of our reaction. As we see in our stores, there is real worry and uncertainty about what is to come. So, how are we coping? What I have seen throughout this event is what I have always seen: fortitude, determination and compassion within our community. While we do observe negative and self-centered actions from time to time, by far most of the community comes together in troubled times. I am proud to lead a group of hardworking and dedicated associates who are committed to providing for those in their neighborhood and beyond, and who are equally proud to be a part of this exceptionally strong and compassionate community. In the end we will all prevail and emerge stronger than ever. 

Doug McDevitt is the manager of a grocery store in Torrington.