Volunteer Spotlight: Dana Taylor

This month, we had the chance to catch up with Store to Door Volunteer Dana Taylor! Since connecting with our program in April of 2021, Dana has stepped up to support our homebound clients in multiple roles, including volunteer shopping at both stores as well as calling clients as a volunteer order taker.

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: In the spring of 2021, I was looking for a new opportunity to support the community and safely connect with new people. Food and nourishment are two of my greatest passions and I love to grocery shop, so Store to Door’s mission and vision seemed like a great fit.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I am currently a nutrition student at the University of Alabama (via distance learning), studying to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. My interests include community nutrition, culinary nutrition, food as medicine, and overall well-being. Outside of my studies, I enjoy spending time in the kitchen fitting as many vegetables as possible in my favorite comfort foods, baking, reading about health, and yoga. I am a long-time volunteer with the Oregon Farmers Markets Association (OFMA) which supports farmers’ markets and fresh food affordability across the state.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: A more fun tidbit is that I have a longtime love of movies and entertainment culture. I grew up in a family where movies played a big role in our quality time together, and I still love getting lost in a great story.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: What makes Store to Door truly unique is its people. Every single person I have met and worked with is exceptionally kind, friendly, helpful, and dedicated. Becoming a volunteer in the pandemic has its unique challenges, but the team has made this such a rewarding opportunity.

Store to Door Extends Best Wishes to Longtime Board Member Marcia Blasen

It is with bittersweet feelings that Store to Door bids farewell to longtime Board Member Marcia Blasen as she completed her board service with us in December 2021.

Since joining the Board in April 2016, Marcia’s dynamic personality, willingness to ask tough questions, and deep commitment to our program work have been instrumental in sustaining and increasing our organization’s ability to serve homebound members of our community. We are deeply grateful for all of Marcia’s indelible contributions to our program over the past 6 years, and wish her luck in this next chapter!

In the past 6 years, Marcia has volunteered more than 335 hours in support of our homebound clients, as a Volunteer Delivery Driver, Friendly Caller, and Shopper, bringing her energy and generosity to bear sustaining homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities. In 2020, Marcia was the recipient of The Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s ‘Silent Servant Award,’ which recognizes private citizens who selflessly and quietly serve others, and who are indeed the most valuable citizens of their communities.

During her service on our Board, Marcia served as both Board Secretary and Treasurer, as well as Finance Committee Chair. Hugely impactful in program fundraising efforts, Marcia has also played a key role in organizing Store to Door’s annual Nourish to Flourish gala event, bringing her dynamic energy and generosity to bear. In addition to her years of service with our organization, Marcia spent 22 years with U.S. Bank, holding multiple roles in New Product Development as well as Global Treasury Management, and continues to work regularly with a number of other local nonprofit organizations.

2020 – Marcia is awarded Peter R. Marsh Foundation Silent Servant Award!

“While serving on the board, Marcia has displayed dedication, grace and seriousness. As a tireless advocate for the mission of Store to Door, Marcia has done a great deal to raise awareness about our organization,” says fellow Store to Door Board Member John Van Dinter. “Although she is leaving the board, she has made it clear that she will continue to volunteer and support our organization. We look forward to her ongoing passion and enthusiasm!”

Our program has been markedly improved by Marcia’s hard work on behalf of our clients, volunteers, and staff, and we are grateful for her years of service. We wish Marcia the best, and we know that she will continue to be a part of the Store to Door community!

Volunteer Spotlight: Barbra and Lynda Bader

This month, we caught up with Barbra and Lynda Bader, who connected with Store to Door in 2019, and have since given more than 180 hours of volunteer time each! We are so glad to have the ‘Bader Babes’ (Their own nickname!) as a part of the Store to Door community, and thank them for their deep commitment to our clients and our mission!

Q: How did you hear about Store to Door?
A: Our friend, Diane, has volunteered with Store to Door for many years. She used to tell us stories about the time she spent talking to clients, taking their orders, and shopping. We were both looking for new volunteer opportunities, so we decided to give shopping for Store-to-Door a try. We were so impressed with the organization and its people that Lynda decided to volunteer as an order taker and friendly caller.

Q: Barbra, you are a regular shopping at Beaverton – what keeps you coming back?
A: Knowing what a vital service Store-to-Door provides and the incredible, fun, and welcoming team of staff members that I get to work with is also a compelling reason. Every week is different, and I look forward to the ‘treasure hunt’ of finding the often hard-to-find items on clients’ orders.

Q: Lynda, as an order taker, what do you enjoy most about calling our clients every week?
A: The clients are so appreciative of Store-to-Door’s service. My clients encompass a wide range of financial and physical circumstances. Still, every one of them has said several times that they don’t know what they would do without the opportunity to get the groceries they want and to change up their requests as their food and moods change.

Q: What does being a Store to Door volunteer mean to you?
A: From Lynda: I look forward to my Monday calls and know that my folks look forward to hearing from me, too. Often the order-taking is secondary to the relationships we’re building.

Q: What is a fun fact about your sister?
A: Lynda is a breast cancer survivor; shortly before her diagnosis, she became involved with Breast Friends. Lynda is in charge of the annual golf tournament to raise funds to provide resources and support individuals going through breast and ovarian cancer.
A: Barbra has been a volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society for 30+ years. Several years ago, she was presented with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

3rd Annual Giving Tree Event Brings Holiday Cheer for Homebound Clients!

On Friday, December 10th, more than 25 Store to Door volunteers and staff joined forces to shop for gifts as part of Store to Door’s third annual Giving Tree event!

Sponsored by Umpqua Bank, this year’s Giving Tree will bring holiday cheer to 75 homebound members of our community when gifts are delivered by another wonderful crew of volunteers and staff this week.

Huge thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who have chipped in to make this happen. This opportunity was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our partners at Umpqua Bank. Thank you everyone who helped bring some holiday joy to the homebound clients Store to Door serves!

Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Collet

This month, we caught up with Mary Collet, who has been taking orders from Store to Door Clients since 2015! We are excited to recognize Mary for her longtime commitment to serving our homebound clients, and for giving more than 318 hours of her time since signing up as an order taker!

Q: You’ve been a Store to Door Volunteer since 2015. How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: I met Store to Door shoppers at my local Fred Meyer and found out how to apply for a spot. Calling was perfect for me as it didn’t involve driving.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you, you’d like to share?
A: I was fortunate to work at the Moffett Field NASA facility during the first trips to the moon. Our job was to determine the safest landing site with the least volcanic dust. (Really dates me) Also, my husband and I spent 10 years as dragon boat paddlers w the senior team Portland Golden Dragons. We traveled to San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Victoria and sometimes we even won!

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: If you are thinking of making calls for Store to Door, you are in for a rewarding experience. Our clients tend to be most interesting and also inspirational.

Store to Door is Excited to Welcome Andrew Robbins as New Grant Writer!

Originally from Colorado, Andrew has lived in Oregon for a total of eight years, in addition to time living abroad (primarily in Melbourne, Australia). First connecting with Store to Door through Hands On Portland, Andrew joins the Store to Door team with a PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Oregon, where he also co-taught and wrote courses and curriculum centered around food politics. Andrew has also worked in arts management roles with several film festivals over the past three years, assisting with grant writing, programming, and communications.

Initially drawn to Store to Door’s program work, Andrew grew up on government food assistance and began volunteering with senior home visitations and soup kitchen meal preparation as a teenager. “These experiences had a big impact on me and helped shape what I consider a lifelong investment in food justice,” says Andrew. “I feel aligned with and excited about contributing to Store to Door’s mission to foster nourishment, connection, and dignity to homebound community members.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Andrew has become a house plant enthusiast and improved his cooking skills (“The NYT Cooking App has been a game changer!”). Additionally, he enjoys hiking, and attending live art performances and film festivals.

We are extremely excited to welcome Andrew to the Store to Door team—his broad and extremely relevant professional background, in addition to his personal connection to our mission, are a wonderful fit with the vital work that Store to Door does supporting homebound members of our community. We hope you will help us welcome Andrew to the Store to Door community!

Bank of America Supports Independent Living for Homebound Seniors Across Portland

During the week of November 8^th, 2021 Bank of America sponsored delivery costs for more than 300 homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities through Store to Door’s Support-A-Week program. As a longtime partner in Store to Door’s program work, and a Support-A-Week partner since 2018, Bank of America has played a key role in helping to sustain the ability of homebound members of the Portland community to age safely and healthily in the setting of their own choosing.

In addition to combatting food insecurity with personal affordable grocery shopping and delivery services, Store to Door works to prevent social isolation among homebound clients via a number of regular programs, including their recently founded Friday Friendly Caller program.

“We are grateful for the generous partnership of Bank of America for the past 4 years,” said Mark Fulop, Executive Director of Store to Door. “Last year, their support helped us meet unprecedented demands because of COVID, and this year, their funds will sustain our program operations and help ensure that we can remain focused on providing nourishment and social connection to our homebound clients.”

Welcome Susan Flagg to Store to Door’s Board of Directors!

We are excited to announce Susan Flagg as the newest member of the Store to Door Board of Directors! A Certified Treasury Professional, Susan has a background as a banking professional with more than 40 years specializing in treasury management, and is currently serving as a Treasury Relationship Manager with WaFd Bank.

Volunteering regularly as a bank employee for a number of local nonprofits, Susan connected with Store to Door after coordinating teams of bankers to volunteer as shoppers during the COVID-19 pandemic! Inspired by our program’s mission, Susan is looking forward to deepening her commitment with Store to Door through board leadership.

“Store to Door’s mission struck a chord in my heart that nudged me to meet with the Executive Director and learn about the positive impact food delivery service is making in the lives of so many Oregonians. It’s a mission to feed the soul as well as the body with regular, supportive contact for so many individuals who may not have social contact otherwise.”

A native Oregonian born in Klamath Falls, Susan and her wife now live in Happy Valley with their two cats, and enjoy traveling, cross-country skiing, entertaining, and staying active. While they now live on their own, Susan’s two sons regularly visit for a hot meal and conversation. In additional to her regular volunteer work throughout the community, Susan is a member of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Lake Oswego.

In addition to her regular Board role, Susan looks forward to making an impact with our program’s Equity Team. “It is my desire to contribute insight and learn how we can expand Store to Door’s service to the many diverse communities we are privileged to have amongst us,” Susan says.

We are excited to add Susan’s strong professional background and commitment to the vital need served by our program to our Board of Directors, and to bring her skillset to bear on our work sustaining independence for homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities across Portland. We hope you will help us welcome Susan to the Store to Door family!

Volunteer Spotlight: Penny Dodge

This month, we caught up with Store to Door Volunteer Penny Dodge! Since 2017, Penny has logged more than 700 hours in support of our program and our homebound clients, as a Volunteer Shopper, Checker, and Delivery Driver!

Q: How did you first get involved with S2D?
A: After retiring, I moved back to Portland and volunteered with several organizations. I really resonated with the mission of Store to Door – to support the ability of people to maintain their independence at home with dignity. In addition to meeting the needs of clients, it’s also social and rewarding for the volunteers.

It’s been particularly rewarding during the pandemic when there has been so much disruption in the supply chain. Clients have commented that Store to Door provides a more personalized service to help find substitutions and alternatives than services like Instacart and Amazon.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with S2d? (job, hobby, family, pets)
A: I enjoy cooking with friends, hiking, playing golf, and classic movies. I have visited six Wonders of the World. This fall I began making wine.

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A: I worked on Capitol Hill as the Chief of Staff to a member of Congress for 30 years.

Q: Is there a moment or memory that stands out from your volunteer experience?
A: I started as a volunteer in the Hollywood Fred Meyer and had the opportunity to volunteer alongside Jean Pierce, a long-time Store to Door volunteer. Jean was in her 90’s and showed up every week to shop for other seniors to help them maintain their independence at home. She was a true inspiration for me!

Q: What advice would you have for someone thinking of volunteering with us?
A: Being a volunteer for Store to Door has been a very rewarding experience. As a shopper, each week I talk to clients about their orders who express their gratitude for the services provided by Store to Door and the efforts of the amazing volunteers. As a driver who delivers groceries to clients, I see first-hand how important S2D is to helping clients maintain their independence at home.

Start Your Carts: We Are Humbled to Announce $5,000 Jean Pierce Legacy Match

_{Store to Door Board Member and Volunteer Jean Pierce: 1925 – 2019}

Today we are honored to announce the Jean Pierce Legacy Match as an incredible opportunity for our Start Your Carts campaign. Thanks to a generous contribution, the next $5,000 raised in our campaign will be matched dollar for dollar in honor of the late Jean Pierce, a longtime pillar of the Store to Door community.

For more than 25 years, Jean Pierce was a beacon of inspiration and selflessness in her service to homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities served by Store to Door, as well as supporting a number of other local causes. With a deep commitment to serving those around her, Jean shopped more than 3,000 grocery orders for Store to Door clients.

The inspiration for Store to Door’s ‘LoVE League’ program, which recognizes long-term volunteer excellence, Jean served with honors on the Store to Door Board of Directors for 5 years and received Board Emeritus honors in January 2019. Additionally, Jean was the recipient of multiple local awards in recognition of her exceptional service. She is remembered fondly by many in our community for her warmth, generosity, and impeccable style.

Jean’s passion for serving homebound members of our community continues to inspire our work and vision of a community where all seniors and people living with disabilities are nourished, included, and can age with dignity in the setting of their own choice. Please join us in honoring Jean’s spirit of service by considering a gift to our Start Your Carts campaign today as part of the Jean Pierce Legacy Match to double your impact.

Donate to our Start Your Carts campaign today