Page 50 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

BUSINESS&INDUSTRY
story by Lynn Lofton Essential Workers Keep Community Going
The pandemic and the shut down of businesses have taught us a new meaning of essential workers. We knew we depended on health care professionals, remen, policemen and sanitation workers to keep life turning, but that distinction has now extended to everyone who helps keep the supply of food and other necessities moving. Thank you to everyone who forms this backbone of the economy.
Robert Strahan, store director of Rouses in Gulfport, is proud of the store’s 125 full-time employees. “We have
not had any major issues with employees here,” he said. “The team e ort has been great with members stepping up. At times the oral manager and deli team members were stocking groceries.”
As for safety measures, Strahan says team members are supplied with gloves and sanitizer at their work stations, and a clerk sanitizes each shopping cart. There is also a sanitizing station set up at the store entrance, and Plexiglass was installed at the service desk, each register and the deli hot bar.
“We have received daily comments from customers saying ‘thank you for what you’re doing’ and ‘thank you for being open for the community,’” Strahan added.
Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich expresses his 50 | July 2020
appreciation to essential workers. “Too often perhaps we take our essential personnel for granted,” he said. “They do their jobs day in and day out without much recognition. However, in times like these we recognize and appreciate the essential work they do for our safety and wellbeing, physically and mentally.”
He not only feels they are essential personnel but there would be no economy of Biloxi without them. “People who live and visit here need to know we are providing a safe, friendly and beautiful environment and these people are the ones who make it so.”
Gulfport and Biloxi restaurant owner Rob Stinson said, “I cannot express my gratitude for all essential workers. Most people think immediately of workers in the medical eld, which in this case is the front line of defense and cure for this horrible situation, so obviously they are vital. “A lot of people forget there are working remen, policemen, city workers, store attendants, delivery people and restaurant workers. I truly want to say thank you to all of these incredible individuals who have sacri ced their own security to serve us. Bravo to them all! The one thing that
is absolute is that we as a society could not have made it through this pandemic without them.”
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