CORONAVIRUS: STRONGER TOGETHER
Harmons Giving Away More Than 3K Digital Thermometers
Apr 1, 2020, 5:00 AM | Updated: 10:05 am
UPDATE: According to Harmons, all the thermometers at each location have been given out by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
DRAPER, Utah – The Bangerter Crossing Harmons in Draper is one of several grocery stores throughout the valley trying to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
Starting Wednesday, it will be handing out free digital thermometers as part of that effort.
Thanks to an anonymous donation, Harmons locations in Draper, Midvale, Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Riverton, Santa Clara and St. George will be providing one free digital thermometer per family. The thermometers will be handed out through the pharmacy drive-thru windows.
When Julie Adamic heard about the giveaway on KSL TV, she jumped at the opportunity — but one day too early.
“Sunday I was actually at the Walgreens across the street and this Harmons just trying to find a thermometer,” she said Tuesday. “They aren’t anywhere to be found.”
The anonymous donation of 3,300 thermometers to Harmons stores will allow Adamic to finally get one.
“You just can’t even find one, let alone be able to buy one,” she said. “It’s really generous.”
The store has also installed plexiglass shields at check stands to keep both customers and employees safe.
“Our priority remains doing our best to follow COVID-19 guidance and we hope that making a thermometer available to families that don’t have one will help them in their efforts to monitor the health of their loved ones,” according to a statement from Dean Petersen, Harmons president and CEO. “We are monitoring the emerging situation continuously and are dedicated to doing all we can to support our customers and communities as we all work together in responding to COVID-19.”
Adamic said having a thermometer will bring her peace of mind.
“I have children,” she said. “I’ve got a family of six in my household plus my extended family, and we don’t have a thermometer amongst us.”
“If one of us were to come down with any kind of illness, or even chills or fever, normally I would say, ‘OK, you’re fine,'” she added. “But now you can’t just say, ‘You’re fine.’”
The select Harmons locations will continue handing out the thermometers while the supply lasts.
Other Utah grocery stores are also taking steps to protect customers and employees. Macey’s and Costco have installed the plexiglass shields at check stands, and stores across Utah are sanitizing carts and cleaning off self-check after each use.
