GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Social media has been abuzz with images and videos of staff at Pick n Pay in the Langeberg Mall, Mossel Bay, spending their time particularly focused before opening their doors to trade during the lockdown.

One might think this focus involves checking stock or decking themselves with personal protective equipment and hand sanitiser before their customers arrive, but this is not it. They are in prayer.

A video of staff, singing a worship song, shared on social media on 24 April, was viewed more than 13 000 times. Pieter Kruger, the store manager, says the daily prayer and song session started earlier this year after staff members requested it. Initially, Kruger says, a few personnel would gather daily to pray before the store opened.

"More staff soon joined in and just before the lockdown, we started building on this special tradition. Staff now gather at the front of the store before opening each day and those who wish to, join in to pray or sing a song or a hymn."

Kruger says whoever feels inclined, is welcome to lead the group in prayer or suggest a song.

"This really brings everyone together for extra inspiration, while serving as a reminder of everything going on around us during this time."

Janine Caradonna, of Corporate Image Public Relations and Communications, who handles Pick n Pay's media enquiries, said this was the local store's own initiative and is not implemented nationally.

Caradonna said more than R2,6-million had been donated by the public in just 10 days through Pick n Pay's Feed the Nation campaign.

This is in addition to the initial R5-million that Pick n Pay donated, together with the Ackerman family, and funds from several Pick n Pay executives.

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