"They can be working those long hours and we’ll take care of the rest — any little thing we can do to take the pressure off." – Jackie Preston Franck
Geauga County’s nurses, paramedics and many others in the medical fields are working long hours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preston Superstore in Burton Village has found a way to express its appreciation for healthcare workers and first responders by making sure their vehicles get basic maintenance their owners might be putting off for lack of time.
More than 1,150 vouchers for free oil changes were delivered April 22 to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center by Jackie Preston Franck — enough for every employee at the facility, she said in a phone interview Wednesday.
“Preston is also offering free pick up and delivery of their vehicles,” said Franck, who does marketing and advertising for the family-owned business. “They are working so many hours, they have no time to sit in a service area lounge.”
The same service will be offered to first responders who risk catching the virus every time they answer a call on a Geauga County property, she said.
All a first responder needs to do is call one of Preston’s Ford, Chevrolet or Kia dealerships and set up an appointment, then show his or her badge, Franck said.
“They can be working those long hours and we’ll take care of the rest — any little thing we can do to take the pressure off,” she said.
Like many businesses still open in Geauga County, Preston has adjusted its customer service to minimize the possibility of spreading COVID-19, Franck said.
That includes installation of Plexiglas partitions in the service areas, sanitary stations around the facilities and rearranging seating to ensure social distancing, she said.
“When the car comes in for service, we make sure we have wiped down the steering wheel, door handles and gear shift,” she said, adding the service technicians all wear gloves. “We’re taking all the necessary precautions to keep our customers and employees safe.”
Preston expanded its services to include saving customers the trip to the Burton location.
“We have had to get innovative and change with these times by offering at-home test drives and at-home appraisals,” Franck said.
