Store To Door of Oregon

Groceries & More. A Friend at the Door

PacificSource Sponsors Day of Grocery Deliveries!

On December 9th, PacificSource sponsored a day of grocery delivery costs for Store to Door’s homebound clients through our Support-A-Day program! PacificSource has been a multiple time participant in this program, and we are grateful for their work supporting those in need in our community!

In addition to their partnership, PacificSource employees have given more than 36 hours of their time volunteering with Store to Door since 2018! We are so grateful for their partnership and their commitment to supporting homebound members of our community!

Volunteer Spotlight: Diane Newell

Diane (orange), with sister (blue).

This month, we chatted with Diane Newell! Since 2018, Diane has volunteered with us in a wide variety of roles–shopper, order taker, admin volunteer, and as a member of our event team! In addition to our program, Diane volunteers regularly with several other community support organizations; we are so glad to have the opportunity to work with her, and admire her commitment to doing good in our community!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
I discovered S2D through the Hands on Portland site. It’s a great way to check out volunteer opportunities and organizations without a big commitment. I shopped at the NW Burnside Fred Meyer years ago but I live in Beaverton and wanted more local opportunities, which I pursued. I was happy to see the program expand to the Beaverton Fred’s, so I started shopping again. On the signup sheet there it noted there was a big need for order takers so I trained in the office for a few shifts and now make my calls from home. During that time I got to know some of the great staff and learned of another opportunity: last year, I helped enter and acknowledge the donations for the annual Nourish to Flourish fundraising event which was good fun.

I’ve really enjoyed all aspects of my experience: the physical nature of shopping, the connections forged by taking orders, the ability to work from home (especially in these times, as several of my other volunteer gigs have been suspended).

Q: What are you looking forward to most when restrictions are lifted in our community?
I am most looking forward to being able to travel. I say my superpower is planning trips, and I play travel agent for my friends and family. I lived in Germany for several months, visited places like Costa Rica, China, Vietnam. I am eager to get back out there in the world! But luckily, I love gardening and dog walking which has kept me busy and somewhat sane these months. I love being outside in the fresh air! But talk to me in January 🙁

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
Do it! Great mission, great people, great need.

Q: What is your favorite Holiday tradition?
My partner and I were fortunate enough to spend last December in San Miquel de Allende, in central Mexico. It was wonderful to learn about and participate in their holiday traditions. This year, for Day of the Dead, my partner surprised me with an elaborate altar honoring our beloved deceased. I love that the Mexican culture takes joy in celebrating the dead rather than simply mourning them!

First Tech Federal Credit Union Sponsors Week of Grocery Deliveries

First Tech Federal Credit Union sponsored a week of grocery delivery costs for more than 300 homebound seniors and people with disabilities for the week of November 30th through Store to Door’s Support-A-Week program. Employees of First Tech celebrated the week by volunteering to grocery shop for Store to Door clients, along with other Portland-area volunteers.

During this challenging year, we are extremely grateful for community partners like First Tech, who have been a consistent partner with our program. First Tech employees join us regularly to volunteer in multiple capacities. We applaud both the organization and its people for their commitment to supporting community members in need!

Thank you, First Tech Federal Credit Union, for your support in helping our clients maintain their independence! Learn more about Store to Door’s Support-A-Day and Support-A-Week programs here!

Store to Door’s Second Annual Giving Tree

On Friday, November 20th, an enthusiastic group of volunteers helped shop for holiday gifts as a part of Store to Door’s second annual Giving Tree event! Serving nearly 60 Store to Door clients, volunteers selected, wrapped, and made personal holiday cards for each of the gifts, which will be delivered in early december along with clients’ regular deliveries.

A warm thank you to Columbia Bank for sponsoring this event, which is looked forward to by clients and volunteers alike!

Remembering Eleanore Rubinstein

April 23, 1913 to November 8, 2020

Store to Door recently lost a cherished member of our community. Long-time volunteer Eleanore Rubinstein passed away November 8th at the age of 107, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Matriarch to her large, close-knit family, Eleanore was an inspirational example of involvement.

Along with her Dachshund, Sophie, Eleanore was a regular fixture in the Store to Door office each Tuesday afternoon. Sophie, a Store to Door character in her own right, sat patiently in her own chair next to Eleanore if there was room, or curled in her lap if there was not. Since becoming a Store to Door volunteer in 2013, Eleanore gave more than 235 hours in service to Store to Door clients. She was a beloved fixture in the lives of the clients she took orders from, many of whom were younger than her. Eleanore was consistently recognized for her excellent volunteer work, receiving a Light a Fire Extraordinary Volunteer award, as well as being selected as Store to Door’s 2016 Volunteer Order Taker of the Year.

  • Eleanore volunteering with Sophie, her dog
    Eleanore and Sophie in the Store to Door office, 2015
  • Eleanore and Sophie, 2018

In addition to her volunteer work with Store to Door, Eleanore regularly gave her time to the Red Cross, PTA, Girl Scouts, and the National Council for Jewish Women. In an interview with Store to Door in 2016, Eleanore  spoke about giving others the benefit of the doubt: “Find the good in people. Everyone has good in them. It’s also important to make friends and keep them.” 

Eleanore often acknowledged how lucky she felt for her life growing up in Portland (Irvington Elementary, Grant High School), her wonderful family, her ever-expanding circle of friends. Those of us who had the chance to get to know Eleanore through her involvement with the Store to Door community feel like the luckiest of all.

To read more about Eleanore’s life and legacy, her obituary is provided on The Oregonian’s site here.

AWS Sponsors Day of Grocery Delivery for Homebound Seniors

On November 19, Amazon Web Services sponsored deliveries to more than 160 local homebound seniors and people with disabilities through Store to Door’s Support-A-Day program!

Having participated as a regular Support-A partner in the past, and even sponsoring a week of delivery costs in October, AWS employees also volunteer to shop for Store to Door clients on a regular basis. We appreciate their commitment to supporting homebound members of our community!

For more information about Store to Door’s Support-A partnership program, visit our Corporate Sponsorship page!

Volunteer Spotlight – Tracy McInally

Tracy has been an indispensable long time volunteer with Store to Door! As a Checker, Shopper, and Delivery Driver, Tracy’s wonderful attitude and commitment to a high standard of service make her a joy to work with!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?

A: Our daughter, Becca, was involved in Leadership in middle school and one of their requirements was to volunteer.  Becca looked into several different volunteer opportunities through Hands on Portland. Store to Door was one that she could do, if she had a parent with her, because she was under 16. Store to Door looked interesting to her and together we volunteered to grocery shop during the summer at Stadium Fred Meyer. We continued volunteering together for many summers, which later included delivering groceries to clients. When Becca was unable to continue volunteering, I looked forward to returning each summer. During the school year I am employed as a paraprofessional at an elementary school in Hillsboro.      

Q: What motivates you to give back to the community with Store to Door?

What started out as one summer, turned out to be 10 years of volunteering! I really enjoy being able to help the clients served by this amazing program. I was able to get to know the clients on a personal basis when I started delivering to their homes. The people who utilize Store to Door are so grateful for this service, many of whom might not otherwise live independently, this ensures dignity and quality of life.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door? (job, hobby, family, pets)

During a typical summer (not dealing with COVID-19), I work for the Hillsboro Hops baseball team.  The Hops are a Class A-Short Season affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I also enjoy camping and spending time with my husband, daughter and our Australian Labradoodle puppy named Barley.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?

I sing the National Anthem, a cappella, for the Hillsboro Hops, at least one game each season.  I have sung in front of thousands of people, and yet I still get nervous every single time, but it is such a thrill!

Q: Do you have a Thanksgiving family tradition you’d like to share?

We have Thanksgiving dinner at my parent’s house and my mother says the grace before our meal.  They have been married for 57 years and we eat off their wedding china.

Q: What would you say to someone who’s thinking of volunteering with Store to Door during COVID-19?

I was a bit hesitant when I came back to volunteer in April, because so much about the virus was unknown. However, knowing you are making a difference in the lives of our elderly, disabled or home bound citizens is worth any hesitation you might have. Store to Door provides gloves and a mask if you need one.  Store to Door ensures your safety while shopping and/or delivering. Since so many of their clients are high risk and unable to go out in public during the pandemic, Store to Door is a lifeline.

Give!Guide: Upcoming Big Give Days!

Want to get the most out of your gift to our Give!Guide campaign? Give on one (or more!) of these ‘Big Give Days’ and you could win one of these awesome rewards! Be sure to follow us on social media for more details and even more giveaways!

FEATURE 1

November 12
A to Z Wineworks Extravaganza

FEATURE 2

November 19
Columbia River Gorge Getaway

FEATURE 3

November 24
Powell’s Books Shelf Buster

FEATURE 1

November 27
Blaqpak Black Friday!

FEATURE 2

December 1
PDX Gives Back

FEATURE 3

December 8
Music Millennium Plays It Loud

FEATURE 1

December 15
Trek Bike Boom!

FEATURE 2

December 23
Nossa Familia Coffee Day

FEATURE 3

December 29
McMinnville, Oregon Wine Country Package

November 12
A to Z Wineworks Extravaganza

November 19
Columbia River Gorge Getaway

November 24
Powell’s Books Shelf Buster

November 27
Blaqpak Black Friday!

December 1
PDX Gives Back

December 8
Music Millennium Plays It Loud

December 15
Trek Bike Boom!

December 23
Nossa Familia Coffee Day

December 29
McMinnville, Oregon Wine Country Package

Support us in the Give!Guide today!

Wells Fargo Sponors Week of Grocery Deliveries for Homebound Seniors

During the week of November 9th, Wells Fardo sponsored deliveries to more than 300 local homebound seniors and people with disabilities through Store to Door’s Support-A-Week program!

A regular Support-A partner in the past, Wells Fargo employees also volunteer to shop for Store to Door clients on a regular basis. We are grateful for their partnership, and their commitment to supporting homebound members of our community!

For more information about Store to Door’s Support-A partnership program, visit our Corporate Sponsorship page!

Support Store to Door in the 2020 Give!Guide

We are excited to announce that we are joining 173 other local nonprofits in the 2020 Willamette Week Give!Guide. Participating in the ‘Human Services’ category, our goal is to raise $10,000 to continue supporting our program during this vital time!

Each year, Willamette Week’s Give!Guide works to build a culture of active citizenship among Portlanders and local partner organizations by engaging them with philanthropy, and supporting local nonprofits in a variety of service categories!

We are excited to offer a number of fun incentives provided by our own community partners, including a paddleboard class, a round of golf, and more! Check out our Give!Guide page for more information —and stay tuned for even more fun incentives offered by Give!Guide themselves throughout the campaign.

See Our Give!Guide Page Here!
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