I recently read an awesome story about a grocery store in Wisconsin that purchased a special shopping cart for a customer with cerebral palsy.
The customer is William Hundsrucker, and he is one and a half years old. His mom, Sandy, sent an email to Festival Foods in Suamico, along with several other local grocery stores. Shopping with him was hard, she said, because regular shopping carts don't offer proper support for a child with little neck control. Just getting him into the cart was tricky.
Sandy recommended that the store purchase a Caroline's Cart. The $850 accessible cart was created by a mom of a girl with special needs, and named after her. The arms open for easy loading, the seat tilts back to accommodate children with low muscle tone, a five-point harness keeps them secure and there's a platform to rest feet on.
Other stores told her they forwarded her email to corporate, Sandy has said. Festival Foods readily agreed to get the cart. Said Hundsrucker, "My son's not the only special needs child around the area. I knew it could help many families and thought it's worth a shot and within a week it was here. It was amazing."
So there it is, a happy ending and a little reminder: Ask. Just ask.
So nice. We should all email and write the store and let them know how wonderful this is. Here is the link to their comment page if any wants to write them. http://crm.festfoods.com/
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely thought, Hannah. You are full of those! :) Will do.
DeleteThanks Hannah,
DeleteI emailed the company and thanked them and they wrote back to me says they would love to see me in their store one day! Big trip from Australia though ;) xx
You are my sister from another mother and father! Look at what I wrote about this week: http://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/special-needs-parenting/grocery-store-must-have-kids-special-needs/
ReplyDeleteThat Kanga Boo is a great idea (and at $38.95, a more realistic purchase for parents of little kids who need that support). Love the fabrics it comes in! So glad it worked for Syona. Hopefully they will make ones for bigger kids, too.
DeleteThere should be more like this!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy. We should inform the store they have done a good thing. Its nice to see stores helping those with disabilities and their families. More stores should come up with ideas which would help those with disabilities.
ReplyDeleteThis story has restored my faith in humanity and people.
Good on the store but good on Sandy for being so proactive for her family and community cc
ReplyDeleteWell done Sandy, a heart warming story to read. I wish they had something like this in the UK.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a needed item to help parents shopping with special needs children. Wish this could get out to more stores so they would provide these carts...and also wish they were available when my granddaughter and daughter in law could have used it a few years back.It is difficult for grandmother to lift a 30+ pound child too so the ease of the getting into the seat is great. Thank you again for the information!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's just so hard to stick you're neck out there and ask. But, oh, the rewards!!
ReplyDelete