As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Keck Medicine of USC employees and administrators are working extremely hard to respond to these rapidly changing circumstances. This ongoing series of stories shares the experiences of faculty and staff and their responses to the ongoing crisis. This week focuses on the Food Nutrition Services team’s vital new service for hospital staff.
To support Keck Medicine of USC faculty, staff and others working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Nutrition Services department has created micro market pop-ups on the Health Sciences Campus. These small markets give staff the chance to buy groceries, essential supplies and even dinners to go.
The markets operate at the Keck Hospital Café and the Rainbow Café. Staff working at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital can place orders online.
“These markets contain fresh produce, non-perishables, toiletries and household essentials which can be purchased at the cafes during normal weekday business hours,” explained Ronnie Burton, director of Food Nutrition Services at Keck Medicine. “Additionally, non-perishable items only are available for purchase on weekends during normal business hours.”
Toiletries available for purchase include — but are not limited to — deodorant, oral care supplies, shampoo and conditioner, shaving supplies, baby wipes, laundry detergent and toilet paper. Those needing groceries can pick up produce bags full of fresh vegetables, plus eggs, milk, butter, tortillas, sliced bread and more.
Hospital employees onsite after 4 p.m. can buy the prepackaged dinners-to-go. There are two entrée options and one side on a menu that changes daily, to eat onsite or take home.
Due to demand and availability, groceries and toiletries are each limited to two items per person per day. Dinners-to-go are limited to four per person per day. Accepted payment types include cash, credit card or employee meal card. Because these items are priced at cost, additional discounts cannot be applied.
To order online, USC-VHH staff members should fill out this form, then email it to Louis.Dineen@med.usc.edu.
As always, Keck Medicine employees are encouraged to practice social distancing when visiting the markets.
— Kate Faye