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’s 2020 Impact Report

We are excited to share our 2020 Impact Report! Despite a challenging year, YOUR partnership allowed Store to Door to provide uninterrupted service throughout 2020.

We were able to expand our service, adapt to better serve those in need, and partner with other local organizations to connect clients with COVID-19 vaccine info and appointments. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission which resulted in such an impactful year for Store to Door!

We Raised More Than $26,000 During Our Emerging Stronger Fundraising Campaign!

On Friday, April 30th, Store to Door capped off our ‘Emerging Stronger’ spring fundraising campaign! Through the month of April, we raised more than $26,000 thanks to more than 88 donors —we are so grateful to those who support our program, and we couldn’t do this work without your partnership.

Over the past 18 months, our incredible community has stepped up to meet the needs of our clients, to support our program’s growth to reach more people in need, and to sustain Store to Door as we adapt to better serve homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities during a critical time.

We look forward to a future in which we can safely come back together. As we journey towards that future, THANK YOU for your partnership. As a community, we can take small steps towards reconnection, and Emerge Stronger, together.

Missed our campaign but still interested in giving to support homebound seniors? Click below!

First Tech Sponsors Week of Grocery Deliveries!

First Tech Federal Credit Union sponsored a week of grocery delivery costs for more than 330 homebound seniors and people with disabilities for the week of April 19th 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.

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!

Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Riter

This month, we are excited to spotlight one of our long term Volunteer Delivery Drivers, Michael Riter. Michael has been a Volunteer Driver with Store to Door since 2015, delivering out of our Hollywood Fred Meyer location!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: Most of my volunteer career has centered around food and food insecurity. Store to Door was a perfect fit for me.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I have enjoyed building long term relationships with my clients that I serve. It has been fun to find the shared experiences that we all have in common.

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about you?
A: That I have traveled throughout the United States and Europe, visiting the worlds greatest concert halls and listening to the finest symphony orchestras in the world.

Q: With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted what are you most looking forward to?
A: TRAVEL! TRAVEL! TRAVEL!

Q: Do you have advice for someone who is considering volunteering with Store to Door?
A: If you enjoy grocery shopping, working and helping people to meet their food needs and requirements, and having a predictable weekly volunteer routine and schedule, Store To Door is the place to spend your volunteer time. Most rewarding!

Volunteer Spotlight: Glen York

This month, we reached out to Glen York, one of our longest-tenured volunteers. This March, Glen celebrates his 21 year anniversary with our program! We are so grateful for Glen’s commitment to supporting our clients and our work, and look forward to a future in which we can see him around the office again!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: During my working years, I was unable to undertake any routine volunteer positions. When I retired in 2000, I started looking for a volunteer position with children and one with seniors. I performed a weekly instructional puppet show in grade school for 12 years with ‘Kids on the Block.’ Fortunately, I found a recruitment notice in The Oregonian for Store to Door and have been an order taker ever since.

Q: What are you looking forward to most when restrictions are lifted on our community?
A: Besides having dinners at restaurants with my friends, I am looking forward to resuming my volunteer position as an usher at six Portland theaters. It’s a way of supporting the theaters and I get to see free shows!

Q: What’s a fun fact (hobby, talent, travel) that you’d like to share?
A: I have appeared in 55 theatrical productions, mostly musicals. The biggest shows were the summer productions at The Rose Garden amphitheater that drew audiences of 10,000 people (and lots of dogs).

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: That is an easy question because I am a huge fan of S2D and have recommended it to many people over the years. I think that S2D’s core mission of providing groceries for people who are unable to shop for themselves is desperately needed. Many of our clients could not continue to live independently if it were not for S2D.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I love my interaction with our clients. I have had the same client list for over a year. I have been calling some of those folks every Tuesday for over 10 years. We have a wonderful connection.

Q: Do you have any special memories of your time with Store to Door?
A: I had a client for a couple of years, “Judy,” who became a good friend during our weekly visits. When she passed away, I went to her funeral. It was a small gathering, and when it was over, I intended to slip away quietly so that I wouldn’t intrude on the family. As I left the building, a lady approached me and asked if I was Glen. To my immense surprise, she told me that “Judy”, her mother, had often spoken to her about me and our conversations every Tuesday. Other family members approached us and echoed her sentiments. It was a stunning reminder to me of the impact and importance of the S2D program.

Store to Door Welcomes Jay Rafter and Tony Rapp to Board of Directors

We are excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors! Jay Rafter and Tony Rapp bring a wealth of experience and relevant skill sets to our work, and will be valuable assets to Store to Door’s leadership. Read on to learn more about each new addition…

Tony Rapp currently serves as Director of Technology with Cambia Health Solutions and is responsible for claim and membership services across the Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plan. Tony first got involved with Store to Door as a volunteer in 2019, helping to choose a new technology platform for our volunteer program management, and connected immediately with the program’s mission and values. Recognizing the great and growing need felt by seniors and adults living with disabilities, and the impact that Store to Door’s work has in the community, Tony looks forward to playing an active role on the Board of Directors.

Originally from Skagit Valley Washington, Tony has now lived in Seattle for more than 20 years. He considers Portland his second home due to frequent travel for work, and holds great admiration for the community and culture of Portland and its surrounding areas. Tony is a graduate of the University of Washington Foster School of Business, a loving husband, and a proud father of two girls.

Jay Rafter joins Store to Door’s Board of Directors with more than 30 years of experience as an intellectual property lawyer, and is a retired partner from Stoel Rives LLP’s Portland office. Currently an angel investor with TiE Oregon Angels, Jay serves as an advisor to startups and young companies on both intellectual property and business matters, and informally mentors law students as well.

Jay has consulted with Store to Door on several legal matters in the last eight years and has served on the program’s Finance Committee since 2019. Connecting personally with Store to Door’s mission since first assisting in a pro-bono legal capacity, Jay looks forward to being a part of supporting the program’s continued projected growth, and to the possibility of considering additional services. He brings insight and respect for the program’s management team, employees, and volunteers, as well as confidence in the strength of the program to continue and expand service moving beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Becky Blumer Steps off Store to Door Board of Directors

While we are excited to add two new members to our Board, it is with sadness and gratitude that we bid farewell to longtime Board Vice President Becky Blumer as she steps off the Store to Door Board, after more than 7 years of service in multiple roles.

Since first connecting with our program in 2012 when Store to Door was located in the same building as United Way (where Becky previously worked), Becky has been a fixture within the Store to Door community, and a guiding force of our organizational growth, leadership, and strategy. She has been a member of both our Nourishing Circle, President’s Circle, as well as our LoVE League.

Officially joining our board in 2013, Becky had a deep connection to our work supporting homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities, and continued volunteering weekly as a Delivery Driver while serving as Board VP. In 2018, Becky and her client Betty Walker, who she had been delivering to since she first started volunteering, were featured at Store to Door’s Nourish to Flourish Benefit Gala. In 2019, Becky was awarded the Portland Monthly’s ‘Light A Fire’ award, in recognition of her extraordinary service as a Board Member.

Becky leaves the Store to Door Board in very strong position for continued growth, and we are so glad to have had her support and guidance over the years. We know that Becky will continue to be a member of the Store to Door family. Thank you Becky!

Volunteer Spotlight: Shelley Bedell

This month, we caught up with Shelley Bedell, who is a regular Volunteer Shopper at Hollywood Fred Meyer and who also makes weekly calls with our Friendly Caller program! Since starting to volunteer in April 2020, Shelley has given more than 120 volunteer hours in support of our clients and our program work!

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

A: I first became involved with Store to Door following communication with Marcia Blasen who is the Portland Food Project contact for me and my bi-monthly PFP contributors.

Q: You are a regular shopper at Hollywood and a Friendly Caller, what would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering for grocery shopping OR the Friendly Caller program?

A: Both shopping the lists for S2D customers and making Friendly Friday calls allow volunteers to become personally involved with individuals whom they’ll probably never meet but whose needs and lives are intimately supported and affirmed by the few hours a volunteer offers every week.

Q: What has been one of your favorite experiences as a Store to Door Volunteer?

A: One Wednesday the list I held requested a funny birthday card for an older lady! I fully enjoyed checking out Fred Meyer’s rather surprisingly broad card offering and chose one not too risqué and not too dull. On that same list the customer also wanted me to choose a dog play toy: not too squeaky or obnoxious. I hope neither item was returned as unacceptable!

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?

A: I prefer being outdoors rather than indoors, so activities and projects in fresh air are on the most-liked list: hiking, camping, backpacking, xc skiing, cycling, gardening. My three adult kids have adopted similar passions, so the plus is we get together and share an outside joy.

Q: Are you binge-watching any tv shows? Have a favorite book to recommend?

A: I do not watch much tv and usually fall asleep before a movie is well underway. A favorite-favorite novel is Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See. Be prepared to read well into the night and to cry.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most with COVID-19 restrictions are lifted?

A: Ohhhhh, when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted: dinner parties and potlucks with friends and families will resume. All have been sorely missed.

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

A: It’s no surprise: I am a tech-neanderthal and forget passwords regularly.

Volunteer Spotlight: Debbe Borders

Since joining Store to Door as a Volunteer Delivery Driver in 2019, Debbe has spent more than 210 hours delivering groceries to Store to Door Clients. Originally delivering one day a week, Debbe noticed our waitlist lengthen at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and stepped up, committing to an extra delivery day each week! In addition to enjoying the physical activity involved in deliveries, Debbe loves the connection and interaction she gets to have with folks she delivers to.

You are a delivery driver for Store to Door, what made you decide to choose this volunteer position AND to volunteer twice a week?

I read about a couple that were both volunteering at Store to Door in AARP. Then I read that the Portland Metro Area had a Store to Door here. I checked out the website and thought I would enjoy delivering, as it has interaction with clients. I started with one day a week for my first year. When COVID-19 restrictions made it less comfortable for people to do their own shopping, Store to Door had a waiting list of over 100 people so I chose to add a second delivery day to my schedule to help out so that more clients could benefit from grocery delivery.

What do you enjoy most about being a Delivery Driver?

I like the physical aspect of driving to work, interacting with other drivers when I pick up my orders at Fred Meyer. I enjoy checking my orders, labeling them, and putting them in my car. I enjoy interacting with clients, especially those who have few visitors during COVID-19. The clients that are in senior living homes are not currently allowed visitors so I call them or text them after leaving their orders at the front desk. I enjoy how I feel on my way home, which is the best reason of all to do this work.

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

I would encourage anyone interested in volunteering to explore the different options at Store to Door: taking orders on the phone from clients, shopping for the clients’ orders in Fred Meyer, delivering the orders to clients. It is easy to volunteer online. Then I had an orientation day (60 – 90 minutes) when I rode along with a training coordinator making deliveries, which helped me get the feel of the work and a typical day. My typical day volunteering is about 90 minutes to 2 hours. The best part about volunteering at Store to Door is the people who I interact with. I highly recommend it.