Hy-Vee stores across the state, including the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, will begin a new health initiative that includes handing out over three million masks to customers.

Starting Monday all stores, including the Perry and Jefferson locations, is launching the, “Mask It Up To Shut COVID Down. It’s Your Choice” program. Employees will be handing out masks free of charge to customers who do not already have one as they enter the store. Public Relations Director Christina Gayman confirms that masks will not be required by customers. 

Gayman adds that this will be another step towards creating the safest environment possible for everyone, “Our main goal is to serve our customers in the best way possible. That’s always been our mission. For us to be able to provide these masks for free, to customers who may not have one, is fantastic and we’re happy to do that. We’re just happy to be able to provide one more thing that our customers can count on to help stop the spread. And providing masks is our next step in providing this.” 

This is the latest course of action taken by the grocery store chain as they’ve already started requiring employees to wear masks, adding sanitation stations, installing plexiglass at the cash register, and adding social distancing markers throughout the stores. The initiative begins Monday and will also include increased educational signage in the stores.