By Katie MacBride, Online Editor-in-Chief

The grocery store is a madhouse: empty shelves, no toilet paper in sight, limited amounts of milk, meat, bread, eggs and canned goods, people leaving the store with their grocery carts filled. 

So, what does that mean for the next person who needs to buy groceries for their family?

Going to the grocery store during the coronavirus pandemic is a most disturbing experience. Witnessing a customer – your fellow community member – running an arm across the shelf, dumping items into the shopping cart, is one of the lowest, most selfish acts ever. 

Having to scurry down the paper items aisle, squeeze through the other customers – all of whom are walking away with armfuls of toilet paper – and arriving at the almost-empty shelf to grab one of the last packages of toilet paper for your grandparents is an experience I wouldn’t want to go through again. Seeing the satisfaction on the other customers’ faces that they got all the toilet paper they need made me feel gross inside.

This pandemic has brought out panic, anger, selfishness, unkind actions and immoral characteristics in people. This is heartbreaking, especially for the ones who are in need of groceries and supplies. 

Many people live paycheck to paycheck and aren’t able to just run to the store to buy groceries whenever they want. This fact further showcases the selfishness of those who are buying in bulk and filling up their carts with more groceries than they would usually purchase.

As for senior citizens, it boils my blood to think about the ederly who aren’t supposed to just go to the store due to the fact that they are at higher risk. When they are finally allotted a safe period of time to shop and are faced with empty shelves because of selfish bulk buyers, it is just pathetic and wrong.

Do not buy in bulk. Buy only what you need and don’t purchase more than what you normally bought at the grocery store before this pandemic. Think about others and don’t be selfish. Think about if it was your friends, your family or your grandparents who couldn’t get what they needed at the store.

Not to mention, there are others in the community who are worse off than you are, so don’t add to other peoples’ struggles during this complicated time by selfishly bulk buying groceries and supplies.

SHARE YOUR STORY: Comment below to talk about what you and your family have seen at the stores, or how you’ve had to look for basic supplies other places during the pandemic. (Editors’ Note: Email address required for comment, but is NOT published.)

Junior Katie MacBride can be reached at 21macbrideka62@daretolearn.org.