November is National Family Caregivers Month, so we talked with two shoppers who leveraged the flexibility of shopping to help care for others in need.
People will tell you they don’t set out to be a loved one’s caregiver– it happens when they least expect it. During the month of November, which is recognized as National Family Caregivers Month, Shipt is spotlighting two shoppers who have stepped up as caregivers and sharing how the flexibility of shopping helps them be available to support their loved ones.
Kimberly, Texas
Kimberly loves Shipt because she can be herself and shop when it works for her and her family.
“What other job can you wear crazy socks, crazy shoes, and just be yourself? Shipt is always there when I am able to shop.”
In 2019, one of Kimberly’s children began feeling sick and was diagnosed with kidney disease. Shortly after the diagnosis, Kimberly’s daughter had to be hospitalized several times. Although this was an extremely difficult time period for Kimberly and her family, she remained hopeful. Because the hospital was located in a Texas city’s downtown area, Kimberly was able to walk to complete orders, and never be too far away.
The flexibility of deciding when and where she would shop allowed Kimberly to prioritize being a caregiver to her daughter. She says she put her earnings from shopping toward helping pay for her daughter’s medical expenses.
Her daughter is now in remission and wants to pursue a medical career to help others who might face similar conditions.
As a mom and caregiver, Kimberly brings her positive attitude and kindness to her shopping. She loves shopping for her preferred members and being active in her community through shopping.
“My customers are like family to me, they ask about how my daughter is doing…I’m helping the community while I’m helping myself.”
Holly, Arizona
Holly moved to Arizona to be closer to family in 2021. As a single mom raising three daughters, Holly needed work that could be flexible around her family’s schedule. She shops while her daughters are in school or at activities in the afternoons, giving her the freedom to define when she is working and when she is with her kids.
“I'm a single parent and I'm still able to make it to my children's school activities and hockey games,” she notes.
Holly loves Shipt for the flexibility of shopping, but she also loves it for the connections she makes with her members. Through Shipt’s Preferred Shopper feature, Holly met Linda, a woman in her late seventies who lived alone and had family out of town. Holly shares that she and Linda clicked right away. Holly was always excited to complete Linda’s orders and even began stepping in to help her beyond shopping such as taking Linda to doctor’s appointments and helping around her home.
Linda passed away last year, and Holly was thankful to have met and cared for her through shopping.
“She was an amazing person and she was always super nice; I always wanted to make sure she was ok,” said Holly.
Holly shares that shoppers’ attention to detail and personalized shopping makes a huge difference in the service customers receive.
“What you’re going to get with Shipt is not what you’re going to get with anything else; the difference is profound. Nothing can be compared, you’re getting a one-on-one experience,” she said.
Shoppers are parents, neighbors, friends, and caregivers. They all have unique reasons to shop and use their time to serve others. Shipt is proud to support shoppers as they serve their communities, families, and customers.