Grocery stores are a madhouse right now. The bottled water is gone, staples like milk, eggs and bread are flying off the shelves, and there’s barely a roll of toilet paper to be found anywhere. Added to this equation is the risk factor of navigating a crowded store. To counteract exposure, a lot of people are shifting to curbside pickup or delivery.

Before you hit click on that list of groceries, take a moment to consider those who depend on grocery delivery. As Julie Rehmeyer points out, surging demand for delivery is making it harder for some disabled people to get their usual groceries.

Fortunately, there are other ways to minimize your exposure while shopping and to maintain a distance of at least six feet from other people. Here are some strategies for doing just that, while also freeing up delivery services for people who need it most.

Shop during the off-hours

Peak hours are typically in the morning and evening hours, as well as on weekend days. Shopping during the off-peak hours, such as late morning or early afternoon, will help reduce the number of people you’ll be exposed to. A quick and easy way to gauge how crowded a store is: Look at the number of cars in the parking lot.

Go off the beaten track

Everyone thinks of Costco or Trader Joe’s but what about that smaller neighborhood store? Whatever is your first or second instinct, go for the third or fourth. Chances are, everyone else will be at your first or second choice, while you’ll be shopping in (relative) peace and quiet.

Have a plan

What are the items you absolutely need, what are the acceptable substitutes if they are out of stock, and what are some nice-to-have items? Have a back up plan for what you will do, if the items you need are out of stock. Can you get evaporated milk instead of fresh? Can you make tofu scramble instead of eggs for breakfast? Having a back-up plan means not having to drive around to different stores looking for that one item. The less time you spend in stores, the less your risk of exposure.

Sanitize

Make sure to sanitize your hands, wipe down your grocery cart handle before you touch it, and avoid contact with other people.

And finally:

Say thank you to the workers

Grocery store employees are working so hard, risking their own health and safety, so we can have the food we need. Meanwhile, a lot of them don’t get paid sick leave. They deserve our gratitude.