Banner Health opens grocery stores for staff amid coronavirus outbreak
Apr 20, 2020, 5:00 PM

(Facebook photo/Banner Health)
(Facebook photo/Banner Health)
PHOENIX — Banner Health announced Monday it is providing employees with the opportunity to purchase grocery items within its facilities at select Valley locations.
On-site grocery stores have been implemented at Banner Ironwood, Banner Behavioral Health Center, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center and Banner — University Medical Center Phoenix, according to a press release.
These grocery stores are said to include healthy essentials such as dairy products, vegetables, bread, fruit and eggs at a discounted price. Culinary staff are also providing medical workers with take-home meals that can feed a family of four.
“We hope this is one less burden for our colleagues and their families to carry in their extremely busy lives,” said Sandy Allen, culinary and environmental service director for Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
“We’re family here and if we can make life easier for our patients, we can also make life a little easier for our co-workers in these uncertain times.”
Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa has administered a similar program providing workers with ready-made food baskets.
Earlier this month, Banner Health asked the public to donate 100,000 homemade face masks in an effort to address the health care non-profit’s shortage of personal protective equipment.
Banner Health is Arizona’s largest private employer and also has locations in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming.