Carli Brant and her sons, Owen, center, and Carter, who are enjoying cookies at Sparkle Market, Brookfield.
Nine-year-old Carter Brant can expect to be asked to do more to care for his family’s chickens, dogs and cat, and to clean up the yard.
But, he won’t be asked to just work during his extended spring break – brought on by the official response to the coronavirus – said his mom, Carli, who said she plans to rent lots of movies.
Brant was out Friday with Carter, 9, and his brother, Owen, 4, shopping at Sparkle Market in Brookfield to stock up on dry foods, canned goods and cleaning supplies. The store pretty much had everything she needed, she said.
Brant said she supports Gov. DeWine’s order closing schools for three weeks, and Brookfield Local School District’s decision to start the closure on Friday, one school day before the order’s effective date, even though she hasn’t totally figured out childcare for her boys when she has to work.
Brant said she has been disheartened by Facebook posts concerning the pandemic.
“The feed shows people not taking this seriously,” she said. “It’s unfortunate.”
Carter is taking it seriously – arguably a little too seriously.
‘The news is affecting how he feels about it,” she said.
Carter said his Brookfield Elementary School teachers on Thursday talked about the coronavirus, how germs are spread and what students can do protect themselves.
Matt Breighner
“The guy in the video said to sing the happy birthday song two times” while washing your hands, Carter said.
Elsewhere in the store, Matt Breighner was bagging groceries for customers, and stocking shelves. The Brookfield High School senior normally would be in school, but took the opportunity to make a little extra money.
Matt said he supported the decision to close the school, but thought three weeks right off the bat was excessive.
“One or two weeks might have been more appropriate,” he said. “That’s just my opinion.”
Matt said he didn’t have any special plans to occupy his time during the break. He’ll probably work and stay home, he said.
“If they don’t want us going out, I’ll probably do what they tell us,” he said.
At Mr. D’s Delicious Fresh Foods, the rubbing alcohol shelf was empty, there were only a few bottles of hand sanitizer, and the water and toilet paper shelves were light on stock.
“A little bit of panic buying going on right now,” said co-owner Ed D’Onofrio.
Customers have been stocking up on “everything,” including meat and dairy products and canned goods, D’Onofrio said.
The hand sanitizer section at Mr. D’s Delicious Fresh Foods, Brookfield.
The store has extra supplies of popular items, but D’Onofrio didn’t know how long they would last.
“We’ll know more in a couple days,” he said.
Lisa Garcia, assistant store manager at Dollar General in Brookfield, was much more worried about her ability to keep items such as hand soap, hand sanitizer, bottled water and Lysol in stock. She said the store doesn’t get another supply truck until Wednesday.
“Busy,” she said of how the store has been doing the last few days. “Very busy.”
The store had enough to make a woman who only identified herself as ‘Mrs. Lee” and Brittany Whitehead of Sharon happy.
Mrs. Lee had two cases of water in her buggy and was looking for toilet paper and cleaning supplies. She said she had been to stores in Pennsylvania and couldn’t find water.
“There’s nothing in Pennsylvania,” she said.
Mrs. Lee wore a mask as she shopped.
“I’m not crazy,” she said. “I’m just trying to stay safe.”
Mrs. Lee said she wanted to make sure her family is well-hydrated and has access to good food.
“We’re gonna focus on our families,” Whitehead said.
