For all of us, the past few months have been challenging, as COVID-19 upended the way we work, shop and connect and we began to adapt to the economic hardships and emotional toll of living in this new reality.
In recent weeks, our nation has been rocked by the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd, compounding the trauma of decades of acts of violence against black people in America.
Our belief is simple: there is no place for racial injustice in our world today. However, getting to the point of true equality for all is not simple. We believe that all of us can make a difference, and for us, that starts with our own backyard.
Here at Shipt, we are having open conversations, asking tough questions, looking at ourselves: as a company, as an industry, and as a country. The answer to many of our questions is clear—we must do more. And while we recognize where we need to put in the work, a bright spot in the past few weeks is how we've seen companies and communities coming together, taking a stand, and using their platforms to do good. As an industry, we can and we should lead by example.
Our customers and Shipt Shoppers have given us a platform, and we choose to use that platform for good. None of us can do this alone. So I'm transparently sharing some of the steps we are taking in hopes that others do the same. This isn't about just Shipt or any one company. As a collective, we can do more if we share and learn from each other. In that spirit, I'd like to share some of the actions Shipt is taking, in an effort to encourage others within the retail industry to do the same.
- Protecting shoppers. Shipt Shoppers are on the front lines, and it's imperative that we do everything we can to ensure their safety. Shipt has and continues to suspend service or alter service availability in areas of unrest or curfew to protect its shopper community as necessary.
- Listening to people. As a company, we owe it to our team members to provide a safe environment in which our people can express their concerns and ask the hard questions. In recent weeks, we've conducted virtual listening sessions. The more we listen, the more we learn. And the more we're equipped to do better.
- Supporting communities. Words are important, but we've felt compelled to support organizations already doing great work in this area, as well. Shipt is donating to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) at the national level and to the Alabama affiliate in support of their ongoing efforts to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country, and specifically to their racial justice work. Additionally, we will be matching the donations of our team members and shoppers to several social justice organizations working towards change in our nation today.
As a delivery service, we must continue to do what we do best: bring the store to our customers' door quickly, safely, and efficiently. But we must do more. We feel empowered to listen to and amplify the voices of those doing great work in the midst of this time. We must identify ways to support underserved communities. We must continue to increase diversity at all levels of our business.
We are listening, we are learning, and we are committed to doing good. We encourage our peers to join us.
We're in this together.