Items

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  2020-03-17

  An abundance of shortages

  On March 17, 2020, I went shopping for the first time since schools and facilities closed nationwide just four days earlier. Much to my dismay, upon entering my local Target, I noticed that shelves in every part of the store were empty, however, I specifically remember shortages of canned goods, paper towels, and tissue paper. I continued to shop and collect what I could, all the while wondering what else would be in short supply in the coming days. During this time, families across the nation (including mine) began to ration food and focus on purchasing essential items when they became available. In retrospect, the mass shortage not only demonstrated how the pandemic impacted all parts of life, but it also revealed how accustomed Americans are to having various items available in abundance, which I believe is sometimes taken for granted.
• 2020-10-26

  Store Shutdowns

  March 13, 2020 started off a normal day. I went to school and listened to all the conversations about COVID and possible school shutdowns. After school my friends and I went to Target but little did I know that the next time I would visit a store would be completely different. A few days later I went to the grocery store with my family. It was a shocking sight when I walked in and seen everyone with a mask on and shelves completely empty. It was like an apocalypse was among us. Everyone was running rampid, pushing their carts as fast as possible and had a mask on all in the process. I had to feel everything through my rubber gloves and had a hard time smelling anything through my mask. Our new normal is wearing mask, social distancing and putting on hand sanitizer every second possible. This is important to share because it shows how COVID has shaped the way we live today.
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  2020-04-03

  Emptiness Around Us: Empty Aisle

  A whole row of empty shelves at Target in Niskayuna, NY in early April. This shelf is normally fully stocked with toilet paper, flushable wipes, paper towels, and facial tissue.
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  2020-04-03

  Emptiness Around Us: Empty Ledge

  An empty shelf at Target in Niskayuna, NY in early April. The shelf here is normally fully stocked with toilet paper, flushable wipes, and facial tissue. The note explains a purchase limit of 1 product per guest, although there was none to be had in the store.
• 2020-03-16

  First week of lockdown

  As a historian, the past three months have seemed more of an interesting project than reality, but I've not been sick. I know a few friends who were ill, and one mural friend who died, sadly, due to COVID19. I wonder what the future historians will say about this period in global history. I'm very glad it's not as deadly as Ebola, or as easy to contract as first believed. I took these photos on March 16, the day before things closed in TX. It was amazing to see so many things shut down so quickly, and my home state, Michigan, was really hard hit so I've been mostly concerned for family there. Now that it's the middle of June I'm less concerned and just trying to do one day at a time, although it has been nice to find toilet paper again. I even created a post for the historic site where I work discussing historic toilet paper, or lack thereof, to make history a bit more relevant. The post got quite a lot of attention. It's odd times but I feel a bit closer to the people we talk about since their fear of disease has become more understandable now.
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  2020-03-13

  Empty Shelves at Target

  When I went to Target to get Clorox wipes for my team, I saw the empty shelves of what should be products. It's important to record the item shortages and panic buying
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  2020-04-08

  Empty Shelves

  The photograph shows a woman standing next to empty shelves at a Walmart. This is very true for the COVID-19 pandemic as nearly all of the stores went out of stock for certain things, especially toilet paper. In fact in my personal experience, there was no food available at the Walmart next door.
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  2020-03-05

  Empty Shelf at Target

  My friend and I visited Target in March, and when we tried to find something like hand sanitizer, paper towel, we found nothing. Panic exists during these days and people just want food and supplies as much as possible, many people think if they don't by them, they will starve and have nothing to eat or use.
• 2020-05-01

  Lines

  Lines
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  2020-03-30

  No bikes left at Walmart

  Even bikes are in hot demand during the hysteria caused by this pandemic as this shot from Walmart can attest to. Photo is from a Walmart in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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  2020-03-24

  "How Fear Can Spread like a Virus"

  This image shows how crazy the hysteria has become, people are hoarding items for this "apocalypse" leaving store shelves empty. When they are fully restocked again, it's only a matter or hours until they completely sell out. However, not many are thinking about those in serious need of those supplies. The elderly have a higher risk of dying and need certain supplies, and families are finding it hard to find meat and other foods to feed their families because of all the hoarding.
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  2020-03-21

  Free toilet paper

  A store front in South Melbourne offering free toilet paper to those who may need them, as they have become in short supply due to stockpiling and panic buying in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.