At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many people went to stores and began stocking up on essential needs and goods. For many, this meant buying way more than they usually do, in fear that there would be shortages and the virus would prevent many from going out to repurchase things.
When people began to “over shop,” there were many who began shaming those for hoarding groceries and other things.
All over social media, individuals began to shame families for buying more than they needed, citing that there are those who need it “more,” or, that it’s not productive to shop in bulk during the pandemic.
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While everyone is entitled to their thoughts, we often times do not know individuals’ stories and circumstances for buying in bulk.
Many people leave home to shop for their elderly family members and neighbors, on top of their own families. There are also those who have purchased extra goods to donate to essential workers in hospitals, too.
And then, there are those with larger families who need to shop for 16 people.
One mother recently spoke out after being shamed for “hoarding” groceries. It turns out, she wasn’t hoarding at all, but shopping for her entire family—which, is bigger than average.
Jeni Bonell from Queensland, Australia, is a mother to 16 kids who range in age from 4-29.
On an average grocery store trip, Bonell buys 24 rolls of toilet paper and nine gallons of milk — not because she’s “hoarding” but because she has a family to support back at home.
Bonell says normally she receives glances, but during this global-wide pandemic, things have gotten worse.
To combat this, Bonell put a sign on her shopping cart while grocery shopping that reads: “Not hoarding, just feeding 16 kids. Be kind or go away please.”
She said that some people have found the sign amusing, but others still are rude.
She told a local newspaper she hoped the sign would make people understand, but there are still those who sneer and mumble things under their breath as they pass her.
And, it’s not the first time Bonell has opened up about this.
In early March when the pandemic began to spread, Bonell was purchasing toilet paper in the store when a woman reportedly said, “”Welllll, there goes ALLLLLLL the toilet paper now ….. hmmmmpffff”…”
Bonell wrote on her Facebook that she, “would not apologize for her family.”
In her post, she wrote : “I will not [apologize] for buying toilet paper for my family which is undoubtedly bigger than yours.”
But, instead of being angry at the woman, the mom offered some kind advice.
“I think the world is definitely suffering from a pandemic, yes, a viral one has now surfaced but there’s been another one that’s been brewing for a long time, and that’s a worldwide lack of good manners with a symptom of unkindness that seems to accompany it,” she said in her Facebook post .
She added…
“Let’s just stop it folks and remember that we all live on this planet together. Let’s be friends instead.”
Clearly, it’s time to stop and think before we begin judging someone else.
During a time like this, it’s more important to be understanding than to judge someone else. You never know what is happening behind closed doors at home.
