Store To Door of Oregon

Groceries & More. A Friend at the Door

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.

Store to Door Extends Gratitude and Best Wishes to Board Member Eumi Wymbs!

Store to Door extends its deepest appreciation to Eumi Wymbs, who will be stepping down from her long-time board role with our program. While we are sad to bid Eumi bon voyage, we are so grateful for the impact that she has had on our program, on our clients, and as a standout member of the Store to Door community both internally and as a representative of our program work.

Eumi’s warmth, passion, and dynamic commitment to furthering our program have been an indispensable part of our program growth and success over the past 7 years. After connecting with our program as a Delivery Driver via the Standard Volunteer Expo in 2014, Eumi became a member of the Store to Door Board of Directors in 2016.

In addition to her role on the Board of Directors, Eumi served as the multi-year chair of our Events Committee, hosting our annual Nourish to Flourish gala event and guiding our program to raising more than $400,000 in support of our mission and creating opportunities for us as a community to come together to celebrate our clients and volunteers! Eumi also served as a key member of our Equity Team, and played a vital role in the release of our program’s Equity Plan and Equity Statement, as well as participating in all-staff equity trainings.

With a deep personal connection to Store to Door’s program work, Eumi has maintained her regular weekly deliveries in addition to her other contributions to our organizations, and is a member of our LoVE League having given more than 750 hours of volunteer time since 2014.

We wish Eumi the best in her next adventures, and we know that she will remain a part of the Store to Door community!

Volunteer Spotlight: Barbara Jones

This Month, we had a chance to interview Barbara Jones, who has given more than 374 hours with Store to Door since joining as a Volunteer Order Taker and Friendly Caller in April 2020!

Q: You volunteer as a Friendly Caller and Order Taker.  What do you enjoy the most about each program?

A: I especially enjoy the little extra conversations I have with my clients when taking their grocery order. Being a Friendly Caller, I noticed our clients really enjoy the extra check-in and are always so happy to have received their groceries.  I have been able to offer contact information for community resources (food box request) to a few and they really appreciate that.

Q: Do you have a fun story to share about your volunteer experience with us? 

A: I had the opportunity to ‘shop’ for our customers last fall and I really enjoyed that part of the process. I have learned a lot from conversations with S2D customers….political views, memories shared, there is always a story to listen to!

Q: What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time? 

A: I look forward to my weekly interaction with a wide variety of S2D customers

Q: Besides S2D, what other organizations do you volunteer with? 

A: I am active in my church’s women’s group.  I especially enjoy the quilters group. We finish-off quilt toppers and once a year send them to countries in need.  I am a member of my local P.E.O. Chapter.  We assist women with their educational goals through grants. 

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: I’ve been playing bridge for over 50 years. I retired from Sears after 31, starting part-time in the shoe dept., and retiring in Human Resources.  I’m known for saying ‘what’s next’?

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door? 

A: It’s a rewarding opportunity and very enjoyable.  You will receive great help from the S2D staff. It’s a program I wish we had in Central Oregon for our seniors.

Bank of America Provides 3 Weeks of Grocery Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Bank of America has awarded a grant to provide three weeks of grocery delivery and social connection for homebound clients of Store to Door during 2021. Bank of America has been a long-time committed partner of  Store to Door’s program, providing financial and volunteer support to sustain independent living for homebound and low-income seniors and adults living with disabilities.

This investment will provide grocery shopping, delivery and social connection for homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities, as a part of Store to Door’s ‘Support-A-Week’ program. Bank of America’s support will cover program costs for a total of more than 925 deliveries to homebound clients across the Portland Metro area.

In addition to this most recent award, Bank of America has served as a Store to Door ‘Support-A-Week’ partner each year since 2018, and has regularly committed teams of employee volunteers to Store to Door shopping operations as well as additional volunteer activities in support of Store to Door’s work. Bank of America has also previously been a key event sponsor of Store to Door’s Nourish to Flourish Gala.

Volunteer Spotlight: Mike Berry

This month, we caught up with Store to Door Volunteer Delivery Driver Mike Berry! Mike joined Store to Door as a Delivery Driver April 2020, and has delivered every single week since! In addition to his capacity as a Volunteer Delivery Driver, Mike has served as Store to Door’s Healthcare Advisor with Aldrich Advisors.

Q: You started with Store to Door at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Why did you initially decide to volunteer with Store to Door?
A: A work colleague, who had volunteered with Store to Door, told me about the huge need for help due to the impacts of the pandemic on not only our customers, but also many of our volunteers. I read about the program and thought it sounded like a great opportunity to ‘temporarily’ pitch in to help the community in a time of need. Well, ‘temporarily’ has ended up being well over a year and I welcome my Wednesday morning delivery shift!

Q: What is the most rewarding part of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Hands down, knowing that Store to Door has provided consistency and compassion to our customers during these difficult times. Not just assuring that they have access to groceries and other important items, but also being able to spend a few minutes on a personal level checking in and just spending some visiting.

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A: For almost 13 years, I’ve been a volunteer firefighter/EMT for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, the 2nd largest fire district in Oregon.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you that you’d like to share?
A: On June 19th, I became a grandfather! My daughter and son-in-law welcomed Mila Rose into our family! My wife and I were able to pop down to San Diego to meet Mila in person over the 4th of July weekend and she’s a doll!

Q: What advice would you give to a new Store to Door Volunteer?
A: A couple things: 1. Don’t be afraid to ask Store to Door staff questions. Every one of them is so helpful and will help you feel more comfortable with your role; 2. Remember you may be one of a very few people that your customer has a chance to talk with in person and share their life with. Take a few minutes to just listen…it means the world to them!

Store to Door Welcomes Therese Andersen to Board of Directors

We are excited to announce Therese Andersen as the newest member of the Store to Door Board of Directors! With a background in Engineering, Therese currently works for Duos, a virtual service that supports fulfilling lives for older adults through the use of technology and community. Therese received a Masters in Engineering Management while working as a General Motors Fellow, co-founded a nonprofit called Baby Basics Bellevue, and even started the Parents Hiking Club at Lincoln High School.

Since connecting with Store to Door in April of 2020, Therese has regularly volunteered as an Order Taker and Friendly Caller, as well as previously serving as a Delivery Driver out of the Beaverton Fred Meyer Store. Therese has a personal connection to the Store to Door work, as well. “I love the mission of the organization and am very honored to be part of this group, changing lives every day by helping meet the basic needs of life – helping with food and companionship” she says. “I am so glad that years ago, a handful of people asked for help with getting food from their community! Look what happens when people ask for help! I have learned that in life, helping those in our zip codes can be very impactful. This is what Store to Door is very good at!”

In addition to her involvement with our program, Therese finds time to stay active with a number of other local organizations as well, including volunteer work with Blanchet House and Pittock Mansion, as well as being part of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Community. Therese immigrated to the U.S. in the 3rd grade, and has moved more than 15 times (“I stopped counting!”) around the U.S., The Philippines, Singapore, and Korea.

Please help us extend a warm welcome to Therese–we are excited to have her join Store to Door’s leadership and look forward to bringing her extensive skillset to support and grow our work sustaining independent living for homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities across Portland!

Volunteer Spotlight: Swirtty Mae Nibley

This month, we caught up with Swirtty Mae Nibley, who has been a regular Store to Door shopper at Hollywood Fred Meyer since 2014! In addition to being a longtime Store to Door superhero, Swirtty has an alter ego as an accomplished singer and showbiz personality!

 

Q:How did you first learn about Store to Door? What keeps you coming back?
A: I first learned about Store to Door through Facebook! One of the main reasons I keep coming back to Store to Door is I love helping! It’s like my heart, mind and body is used to helping. If I don’t help it’s like my week is not complete. Then of course I want to see the Store to Door family! And to see any new friends that I recently made. 

Q: Do you have a shopping pro-tip to share with our newer volunteers?
A: The tip that I can share to our new volunteers is to enjoy what you’re doing and expect to be challenged! Help doing grocery can aid in protecting your mental and physical health. 😉 Every week that I’m helping, I learned a lot, there’s a lot of food and things that I didn’t even know existed!

Q: What is one of your favorite Store to Door experiences?
A: One of my most unforgettable and favorite experiences helping at Store to Door was, I think it was before COVID-19 came, Fred Meyer suddenly decided to change everything at the store! When I say everything it’s like every aisle that we’re used to go, were not as we knew! We didn’t know where to start or where to go! 😂 Both volunteers and Fred Meyer employees had to talk to each other a lot more in order to get the job done. 

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I am taking care of my elderly grandpa! ❤️ Before I used to do singing engagements. But because of COVID-19 a lot of events have been canceled. For now I just practice my singing at home, clean the house, do gardening, attending virtual class and I’m learning how to cook new dishes. 

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A: In the showbiz world my stage name is Sophia Montecarlo, I started singing at the age of 3. My first television appearance was when I was 11 years old. I also performed in a reality show in the Philippines, I competed at the World Championship of Performing Arts held in Los Angeles and won several medals. I earned the title of Kumoricon Idol in 2019 and still retain the title due to COVID-19 canceling the event for year 2020. Now I’m one of Portland’s local singers! One of my favorite local events is the Jade Night Market. ❤️  

www.sophiamontecarlo.com
www.facebook.com/sophiamontecarlo

Volunteer Spotlight: Anne McAlpin

This month, we reached out to regular Store to Door Volunteer Shopper Anne McAlpin! In addition to being a fixture on shopping days at our Beaverton location, Anne is a AAA Travel expert and Author—you can find her on Instagram @PackitupwithAnne, or pick up her book Pack it Up: The Essential Guide to Smart Travel!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door? 
A: When COVID began – and travel stopped – I asked a friend about volunteering opportunities – she recommended Store to Door.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Working with the other volunteers and calling the clients – they are always so appreciative.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Antiquing – I love collecting vintage suitcases and trunks – the stories they could tell!

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A: Growing up our family raised Scottish Highland Cattle.

Q: What are you looking forward to most when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted? 
A: Getting together with family and friends and eating fish and chips on the Oregon Coast!

Q: What is your favorite thing about traveling?
A: Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and eating great food.

Q:  What’s your favorite place so far?
A: Can I have two? Italy and Jordan.

Q: Which country has the friendliest people?
A: Ireland!

Q: What’s your top travel tip?
A: No matter how long you’ll be traveling, pack for a week and do laundry. For handwash – turn a gallon size Ziploc bag into a mini-washing machine.

Store to Door is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our federal Tax ID # is 94-3105555.
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