93: Tom Reider

Ace Hardware

Tommy Reider works for an Ace Hardware Store about 40 hours a week and did so all throughout the shutdown. In a typical day, he tends to the plumbing and electrical areas of the store and assists customers wherever he’s needed. During the shutdown, they had to limit the number of people who could be in the store at once, and everyone had to wash their hands to be permitted inside. The store became busier than anyone ever expected, which was incredibly stressful for Tommy and the other employees. It wasn’t just the employees though; Tommy could tell how stressed and worried many of the customers were, especially at the beginning when everything was so unknown. He will always remember one woman he helped whose husband was sick. He can still see just the tremendous burden she was under written on her face. 

The beginning of the pandemic especially was an especially difficult time for Tommy because he needed to help homeschool his two young sons, as well as take care of his mother who has cancer. Fortunately, he was able to transfer to a store closer to his home. Tommy is incredibly grateful for the job he has, especially in a time where so many people are out of work. He has come to realize that every person has a different story and that you can’t judge people when you don’t know what they are going through. He hopes that people can be more compassionate and understanding in the future.