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| How an Edible Arrangements Delivery Worker Spends Her Sundays | How an Edible Arrangements Delivery Worker Spends Her Sundays |
| (5 days later) | |
| Sandy Matthews makes deliveries for Edible Arrangements, the company known for its cut fruit bouquets, mylar balloons and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Since the coronavirus outbreak, she has gone from working part time to full time. “I used to drop off five or six arrangements a day, mostly for birthdays or graduations; now it’s 20-plus,” she said. “A lot are being sent by worried, out-of-state parents who are afraid their adult children aren’t getting vitamins or won’t have food,” she continued. “Others are for mourners who have lost people to the virus.” Ms. Matthews, 54, who was a waitress for more than two decades, lives by herself in a one-bedroom apartment in University Heights, in the Bronx. | Sandy Matthews makes deliveries for Edible Arrangements, the company known for its cut fruit bouquets, mylar balloons and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Since the coronavirus outbreak, she has gone from working part time to full time. “I used to drop off five or six arrangements a day, mostly for birthdays or graduations; now it’s 20-plus,” she said. “A lot are being sent by worried, out-of-state parents who are afraid their adult children aren’t getting vitamins or won’t have food,” she continued. “Others are for mourners who have lost people to the virus.” Ms. Matthews, 54, who was a waitress for more than two decades, lives by herself in a one-bedroom apartment in University Heights, in the Bronx. |
| SOME SUGAR WITH THE NEWS I bounce up at 8 a.m. My body has its own alarm. I brew Starbucks, and add two spoons of raw sugar and two spoons of Coffee-Mate. I watch Cuomo’s hour update and then I need to turn to something else like “Cheaters.” It’s very hard to watch the news. It makes me anxious and hurts my heart. | SOME SUGAR WITH THE NEWS I bounce up at 8 a.m. My body has its own alarm. I brew Starbucks, and add two spoons of raw sugar and two spoons of Coffee-Mate. I watch Cuomo’s hour update and then I need to turn to something else like “Cheaters.” It’s very hard to watch the news. It makes me anxious and hurts my heart. |
| FAST COMMUTE Around 12:30 I walk to my car and drive to the store, which is on 99th and Third Avenue, in Manhattan. The drive only takes 15 minutes now instead of 45 because there’s no traffic. | FAST COMMUTE Around 12:30 I walk to my car and drive to the store, which is on 99th and Third Avenue, in Manhattan. The drive only takes 15 minutes now instead of 45 because there’s no traffic. |
| ARRANGE THE ARRANGEMENTS Once I’m at the store I go inside and get the arrangements. Sometimes someone is there to help me load them in the car, or I’ll do it myself. West Side drop offs go on one side; East Side on the other. The Bronx go in last because I do Manhattan first, unless there’s a timing issue. | ARRANGE THE ARRANGEMENTS Once I’m at the store I go inside and get the arrangements. Sometimes someone is there to help me load them in the car, or I’ll do it myself. West Side drop offs go on one side; East Side on the other. The Bronx go in last because I do Manhattan first, unless there’s a timing issue. |
| SO MUCH FOR SURPRISES By 1:30-ish I’m at my first stop. Manhattan is easier because most buildings have doormen who come out and take the packages from me. Then I’m on to the next. The others I call ahead now. They come down and meet me. Almost everyone is wearing a mask. Before the pandemic I didn’t really call anyone, because these are supposed to be surprises, but it’s been harder now. | SO MUCH FOR SURPRISES By 1:30-ish I’m at my first stop. Manhattan is easier because most buildings have doormen who come out and take the packages from me. Then I’m on to the next. The others I call ahead now. They come down and meet me. Almost everyone is wearing a mask. Before the pandemic I didn’t really call anyone, because these are supposed to be surprises, but it’s been harder now. |
| SMILES AND TIPS People are supposed to be home, but a lot of people aren’t. Now that they know I’m coming, they have money in their hand and tip me, which they never did before. And everyone is over-the-top happy that I’m coming out and working. They thank me and tell me to stay safe and be well, which makes me feel appreciated and cared for. I make about $20 in tips, which helps with gas and lunch. | SMILES AND TIPS People are supposed to be home, but a lot of people aren’t. Now that they know I’m coming, they have money in their hand and tip me, which they never did before. And everyone is over-the-top happy that I’m coming out and working. They thank me and tell me to stay safe and be well, which makes me feel appreciated and cared for. I make about $20 in tips, which helps with gas and lunch. |
| THE WORKOUT The people who live in walk-ups are the hardest. Four flights are not easy. The arrangement is heavy, and I’m a little heavy, but it’s good exercise. I don’t touch anything and use a napkin to buzz them, open the door, and ring their bell. I’ve got a bandanna and a mask over my mouth. | THE WORKOUT The people who live in walk-ups are the hardest. Four flights are not easy. The arrangement is heavy, and I’m a little heavy, but it’s good exercise. I don’t touch anything and use a napkin to buzz them, open the door, and ring their bell. I’ve got a bandanna and a mask over my mouth. |
| THE HANDOFF I’ve learned to place the package on the floor first, rather than hand the basket over because people want to open it and read the card and find out who sent it to them. I just want them to sign the sheet and let me go. Now I ask them to sign first. Most don’t want to touch my pen, which I get. That’s OK. It means I don’t have to sanitize it when I get back in the car. | THE HANDOFF I’ve learned to place the package on the floor first, rather than hand the basket over because people want to open it and read the card and find out who sent it to them. I just want them to sign the sheet and let me go. Now I ask them to sign first. Most don’t want to touch my pen, which I get. That’s OK. It means I don’t have to sanitize it when I get back in the car. |
| FAST FOOD Once I finish with Manhattan stops I go for lunch at 3:30 or 4 and eat in the car for the next 15 minutes because you can’t sit inside anymore. I usually do McDonald’s, burger and fries. Sometimes it’s Chipotle. I try not to focus on being out during this scary time, but I’m also happy to be working. | FAST FOOD Once I finish with Manhattan stops I go for lunch at 3:30 or 4 and eat in the car for the next 15 minutes because you can’t sit inside anymore. I usually do McDonald’s, burger and fries. Sometimes it’s Chipotle. I try not to focus on being out during this scary time, but I’m also happy to be working. |
| Updated July 27, 2020 | |
| PERKS OF THE JOB I’ve been trying to figure out how to rebuild my career, which has been difficult. I like making deliveries because I’m my own boss. It gives me freedom and a chance to interact with people, which I did more of before the virus. I’m a people person. The arrangements are gorgeous, and I like carrying them because people are always looking at you. And in a small way I feel I’m bringing happiness to people during a difficult time. | PERKS OF THE JOB I’ve been trying to figure out how to rebuild my career, which has been difficult. I like making deliveries because I’m my own boss. It gives me freedom and a chance to interact with people, which I did more of before the virus. I’m a people person. The arrangements are gorgeous, and I like carrying them because people are always looking at you. And in a small way I feel I’m bringing happiness to people during a difficult time. |
| LOBBY HERO At 4:15 I head to the Bronx, which can be difficult because I don’t know the Bronx well. I’m crisscrossing and going in circles. The drop-offs are hard here because most buildings are in the projects or high-rises without doormen. I’m always hopeful these people will meet me in the lobby because I don’t like to go into the buildings. | LOBBY HERO At 4:15 I head to the Bronx, which can be difficult because I don’t know the Bronx well. I’m crisscrossing and going in circles. The drop-offs are hard here because most buildings are in the projects or high-rises without doormen. I’m always hopeful these people will meet me in the lobby because I don’t like to go into the buildings. |
| DRIVE AND PRAY I finish around 6 or 7 and head home and look for parking. That can take 45-minutes to two hours. Since everyone is home, no one is moving their cars. I drive and pray as I go in a four- or five-block circle. Though I’m in the car a lot I don’t mind because I love listening to music; jazz, rap, R&B, classic rock. | DRIVE AND PRAY I finish around 6 or 7 and head home and look for parking. That can take 45-minutes to two hours. Since everyone is home, no one is moving their cars. I drive and pray as I go in a four- or five-block circle. Though I’m in the car a lot I don’t mind because I love listening to music; jazz, rap, R&B, classic rock. |
| HOME DISINFECTION By 7:30-8 I’m back upstairs. Normally I’d head to the kitchen for water or start dinner, but now I take everything off which goes into a plastic bag or a portable hamper and get in the shower. I want to be safe and not spread anything around the house. | HOME DISINFECTION By 7:30-8 I’m back upstairs. Normally I’d head to the kitchen for water or start dinner, but now I take everything off which goes into a plastic bag or a portable hamper and get in the shower. I want to be safe and not spread anything around the house. |
| JUDGE JUDY FOR THE WIN Around 9:30 I eat dinner. I’m boring and eat the same thing over and over; salmon and sautéed spinach and a baked potato, or chicken and salad. The TV is in the bedroom, so I’ll have dinner in there and watch “Judge Judy,” who I like because she gets right to the point, and “Family Feud.” Around 11:30 I’ll fall asleep with the TV on and wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. and turn it off. Then I go back to sleep. | JUDGE JUDY FOR THE WIN Around 9:30 I eat dinner. I’m boring and eat the same thing over and over; salmon and sautéed spinach and a baked potato, or chicken and salad. The TV is in the bedroom, so I’ll have dinner in there and watch “Judge Judy,” who I like because she gets right to the point, and “Family Feud.” Around 11:30 I’ll fall asleep with the TV on and wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. and turn it off. Then I go back to sleep. |