When we look back at the coronavirus pandemic a decade from now, the definitive images of the event may center around grocery stores.
The footage of people crowding around a palette jack filled with toilet paper or people waiting for three hours outside of a supermarket will forever be connected to the pandemic.
As Mr. Rogers famously said, when tragedy strikes, "look for the helpers." Medical professionals, first-responders, and state employees are always there for us in a crisis, but this time, grocery store employees are among the helpers who have come forward.
At a time when everyone should be social distancing, they're working check-out counters where hundreds of people pass by them every day, handing them money that may or may not be contaminated. Other employees are managing the panicked customers or attempting to stay calm when asked about the next shipment of toilet paper.
This is wild! People are really fighting for toilet paper!😂😂pic.twitter.com/Mh1TYrZBJO
— Figen.. (@TheFigen) March 20, 2020
Minnesota and Vermont are showing their support for these workers on the front lines by declaring them emergency workers. The designation means that in both states the employees are eligible for free child care.
Access to child care, let alone free child care, is a godsend at a time when schools are closed.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made the designation as part of the "Care for Children of Families of Emergency Workers" order which instructs schools to provide daycare for school-age children of emergency workers who are "critical to the response of COVID-19."
Grocery clerks are labeled as essential "tier 2 workers" according to the order.
.@GovTimWalz has classified “food distribution workers," which is store clerks, stockers, etc, as Tier 2 emergency works. This allows frontline workers childcare as they serve and feed Minnesotans. Thank you @GovTimWalz for supporting our industry during this challenging time!
— MN Grocers Assoc. (@MNGrocers) March 18, 2020
In Vermont, children of grocery store workers will now be able to attend child care at private centers which will be reimbursed by the state, under an order by public safety commissioner Michael Schirling.
Grocery store clerks nationwide should be considered emergency workers during this time and they should be eligible for hazard pay.
Hazard pay is defined by the Department of Labor as, "additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship," with "physical hardship" including "extreme physical discomfort and distress … not adequately alleviated by protective devices."
Please take time to thank all supermarket workers who are superheroes at the moment working so hard to keep up with demand. pic.twitter.com/5NrVyv5Zmh
— Nick Smith (@NicksSmith69) March 20, 2020
Grocery store employees are sitting ducks, waiting to catch the virus. They should be compensated.
The hourly mean wage for cashiers at food and beverage stores is just $11.43. No one should have to risk their lives for any amount of money, but many workers are forced into dangerous situations because they don't want to, and can't afford to, lose their jobs.
"It's an awful decision: Go to work and put your life at risk, or lose your job, lose your income, and lose your insurance," a 67-year-old grocery store worker told Vox.
In times of crisis, you can judge a country the way it treats its most vulnerable. Being underpaid and forced to work in a dangerous condition is as vulnerable as one can get. As a country, let's be on the right side of history and care for these workers and their children.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.