NORFOLK, Va. - This is Camille Eledridge’s first time shopping at Thrift Store USA.
“I like it. I feel safe. Everyone has mask; they have the screen,” said Eledridge.
She’s talking about the acrylic screen that helps keep customers and employees safe at the register.
“We put all the plexiglass up to make sure we kill some of the germs when people are coughing,” said Charlie Grant.
Grant is the manager at Thrift Store USA. He says it wasn’t easy getting his hands on the protective shield.
“At the time, it was kind of hard. We got kind of lucky, then we ran across a company that had some,” he adds.
Norva Plastics says as businesses get ready to open, orders are stacking up.
“The shields... we are making them by the thousands right now,” said Howard Everton. He is the president of Norva Plastics in Norfolk.
He says there is currently a nationwide shortage.
“Some of the materials we are not going to get until the end of August,” he adds.
They are working around the clock to get shields to businesses and hospitals, like incubator units for doctors.
“It gives everybody a sense of protection,” said Everton.
Management at Thrift Store USA says if they didn’t get the plexiglass in on time, they don’t think they would’ve been able to fully open this Friday.
“We are just trying to keep everyone safe and happy,” said Grant.
Customers say the shield is a step in the right direction.
“If they didn’t have this - the lines and stuff like that - I wouldn’t have came,” said Eledridge.
