Store to Door is Proactively Preventing the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated: 03/23/2020

Governor Kate Brown’s executive order 20-12 continues to underscore the importance of our grocery delivery services for homebound seniors and those with disabilities. Our program is still operational and needs community volunteers to help us meet the increased need for services by seniors most at risk for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Volunteers serving our program are delivering essential services to seniors, and are allowed under executive order 20-12. Please consider sharing your time (volunteer here) or resources (donate here).

Store to Door is a nonprofit agency that is a volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service in Portland, Oregon serving over 700 clients annually. We support independent living for seniors and adults with disabilities. Many of our clients are homebound or have limited access to the community. Because we are delivering groceries to a vulnerable population we are taking our role in preventing the potential spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) seriously. In fact, because our program reduces the need for seniors to shop for groceries in stores, we actually prevent vulnerable seniors from potentially being exposed to the Coronavirus. Store to Door staff meets on a regular basis to ensure that we are taking recommended steps to protect the health of our staff, volunteers and clients. Our actions so far include:

1. In our office, we have implemented a mandatory stay at home when staff or volunteers are sick. We have also implemented an enhanced cleaning policy that includes daily, wiping down of doorknobs, counters, and keyboards as well as enhancing the cleaning of common areas and bathrooms. Signs about how to prevent coronavirus have been posted at our offices and information handouts are available to all staff and volunteers.

2. For the past two weeks, we have included an informational pamphlet about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) developed by the Oregon Health Authority (see here) in all client grocery deliveries. We will continue to include these informational fliers in order deliveries to ensure that we reach all clients.

3. We are encouraging our order takers to work remotely from home for those volunteers seeking to reduce their potential exposure in the community.

4. When we take orders from clients, we inform them of our “no contact” or “limited contact” deliveries.

A no contact delivery is where the driver knocks on the door and leaves the groceries at the door (in paper bags). The delivery driver steps back 6 feet or more when the client comes to the door. The delivery driver waits while the client brings groceries into his/her home and the conversation with the client is at a distance of 6 feet or more.

A limited contact delivery is when both the client and the driver are comfortable with the driver bringing groceries into the client’s home leaving the groceries either at the door or on a counter in the kitchen according to the client preference. The delivery driver maintains a distance from the client and steps back outside of the home after setting down the groceries. The conversation with the client is at a distance of 6 feet or more.

5. For volunteer shoppers, we are working with Fred Meyer to monitor their company actions (see here) related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We require volunteers who are ill to stay home. We also encourage healthy volunteers to continue to support vulnerable seniors by shopping on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

We currently provide hand sanitizers and are also implementing social distancing strategies for staff and volunteer shoppers. If you can support us as a volunteer shopper contact Kelsey Hecker, at 503-200-3333 extension 108 or kelsey@storetodooroforegon.org

6. Store to Door staff is working closely with county government and community partners to coordinate additional prevention measures. We will update this bulletin as needed.

7. Finally, we are coordinating our actions with the Fred Meyer Stores where we shop to make sure that we are promoting the optimal health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and the vulnerable clients we serve. Please see the corporate policy of Fred Meyer for more information about the actions the stores are taking to prevent the spread of the virus (see here).

HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW

Volunteer to shop for groceries: https://storetodooroforegon.volunteerhub.com
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Volunteer to make no-contact deliveries to homebound seniors: email Kelsey@Storetodooroforegon.org
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Donate to support our work: https://storetodooroforegon.org/donate/

For more information about Store to Door’s response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), please contact Mark Fulop, MA, MPH, Executive Director (503) 200-3333 extension 101 or mark@storetodooroforegon.org

Home Instead of Portland sponsors day of delivery costs

On February 26th, Home Instead Senior Care PDX sponsored deliveries to 109 local homebound seniors and people with disabilities through Store to Door’s Support-A-Day program.

Along with the sponsorship, an energetic team of Home Instead employees volunteered to grocery shop for Store to Door clients at our Beaverton Fred Meyer location.

Serving Portland and Beaverton, Home Instead Senior Care PDX works to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families with caregiving and support services designed to enable seniors to age comfortably and safely in their own homes.

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

Cards from KP!

In January, employees at Kaiser Permanente joined with friends and family members to make a mountain of handmade, heartfelt greeting cards for Store to Door. We can’t wait to share them with our clients, and we are grateful for KP’s commitment to making a difference in our community!

Bank of America Sponsors Week of Grocery Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Bank of America sponsored a week of grocery deliveries to homebound seniors and people with disabilities in the Portland area. As a part of Store to Door’s Support-A-Week program, Bank of America paid delivery costs for 241 orders, consisting of groceries, prescriptions, and other household items. Bank of America employees also supported Store to Door’s work by volunteering to help shop client orders at both Hollywood Fred Meyer and Beaverton Town Center Fred Meyer.

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

Store to Door Welcomes Mark Fulop as New Executive Director

Store to Door is pleased to announce that Mark Fulop has been named as the organization’s new Executive Director effective December 16^th, 2019. Mark joins Store to Door with a wealth of senior management experience—having served in nonprofits, county health departments, and academic universities. His career has focused on supporting community-based health and social programs.

For the last decade, Mark has been a consultant to nonprofit, government, and philanthropic organizations. He helped dozens of Portland organizations create effective boards, develop strategic plans, and strengthen programs that serve the community. Mark’s education includes degrees in Public Health and Educational Technology.

“Mark is a strategic thinker and empowering leader who brings with him extensive experience in the nonprofit community and a rare combination of expertise in public health and technology,” says Store to Door Board President Mike Beaty. “We are excited to welcome him into our family.”

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Mark has served as a volunteer Board Member with several different organizations, including Reading Results, Community Music Center, and Resolutions Northwest. Mark volunteered with Social Venture Partners Portland and, with his two children, volunteered for over a year at the PACS Food Pantry.

“Store to Door builds community by connecting volunteers with seniors and people with disabilities. The program goes beyond delivering groceries and actively promotes the social health, equity, and well-being of those needing support. Store to Door is a unique approach to strengthening the social fabric of our neighborhoods,” Mark says. He continues, “I am honored to build on the legacy of this great organization and to work with the board to support our amazing staff and volunteers as we seek to make an even greater impact in the lives of those we serve.”

Support Store to Door on #GivingTuesday 2019!

Held each year on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday affords us an opportunity to celebrate charitable giving, and to begin the holiday season by supporting those causes we feel strongly about. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.

We hope you will remember Store to Door this #GivingTuesday, and help us continue our work delivering nourishment, connection, and dignity to homebound seniors and people with disabilities here in the Portland area.

“I was going to the store about 6 weeks in between. Now, I can eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.”
– Store to Door Client

PacificSource Health Plans Sponsors Day of Grocery Deliveries to Seniors

PacificSource Health Plans sponsored a day of grocery delivery costs for more than 110 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities on November 13th through Store to Door’s Support-A-Day program.

Employees of PacificSource also celebrated the week by volunteering to grocery shop for Store to Door clients at Beaverton Town Center Fred Meyer, along with 30-45 other Portland-area volunteers.

PacificSource Health Plans support came as a part of a $2,500 grant awarded to Store to Door through PacificSource’s Healthy Communities Giving Program, which is aimed at partnering with communities in order to “achieve health, resiliency, and well-being for individuals and families.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Leigh Thalhimer

For the month of November, we’re putting the spotlight on long-time volunteer, Leigh! We asked Leigh about her involvement with Store to Door, her holiday traditions, and the multiple ways in which she gets involved serving her community!

Q. How long have you been volunteering with Store to Door and what do you help us with?

A. I have been volunteering with Store to Door for several years. I help shop at the Beaverton Fred Meyer and make calls for shopping orders.

Q. Which volunteer role with us is your favorite and why?

A. I love calling my clients. Since it is the same group every week, we have gotten to know each other well. Many look forward to my call, not only to take their order, but also to talk with a friend. They are so appreciative of our organization and the care shown to them from all of us -the callers, shoppers, delivery drivers, and the administrative office staff.

Q. You frequently bring along a furry friend while volunteering – tell us about your pup!

A. I am a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind and have my pup with me at the office and while shopping. As a puppy raiser, I work with the pups from 9 weeks until 14-16 months when they return to the Guide Dog campus for their 3 + months of formal training. I used to bring Tahiti, a black lab brindle, who is now a working guide. She’s back in Portland and her handler is on my call list. I am currently raising Haviland, a yellow lab, who has become a regular at the office and shopping with me at Fred Meyer.

Q. Any challenges to volunteering while also training?

A. I love this organization and enjoy my volunteer jobs with Store to Door. They are also great working opportunities for my guide pups in training. The dogs are exposed weekly to office settings in a busy room with lots of people and several hours at Fred Meyer shopping, checking carts, and doing the belt line check out.

Q. The holidays are approaching, what’s your favorite family holiday tradition and why?

A. When my sons were young, we started doing ‘holiday adoptions’ for families at Albina Head Start. My boys are now 21 and 24 and they still go with me to deliver our gifts to the families.

Q. Does you pup get spoiled during the holidays? What’s a special treat your dog gets?

A. We have a lot of guidelines to follow to prepare our pups for their formal guide dog training, but they have lots of time off at home to play, get lots of snuggles, and just be “dogs.” Their treats are tug toys to play with me or my pet dog, and always a new bone for Christmas.

Advantis Credit Union Sponsors Day of Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

On October 30th, 2019 Advantis Credit Union sponsored grocery deliveries to 133 homebound seniors and people with disabilities through Store to Door’s Support-A-Day program!

In addition to their sponsorship, a lively team of Advantis employees volunteered to help shop for Store to Door clients at the Hollywood Fred Meyer location.

Advantis has been a Store to Door partner since 2015 and has been a consistent supporter of our work delivering groceries and friendship to homebound seniors and folks with disabilities. Together, we envision a Portland community in which seniors and people with disabilities are nourished, connected, and able to age with dignity in the setting of their own choosing.

Board Member Becky Blumer Honored with Light-A-Fire Award!

Becky Blumer—Store to Door’s dynamic and dedicated Board Vice President—has always brought a deep commitment to our mission, caring for our clients, and a clear leadership vision to our work as an organization!

This month Portland Monthly Magazine is honoring Becky with a Light A Fire Award as an Extraordinary Board Member. Thank you Becky, Store to Door is lucky to have you!

Read the Portland Monthly’s full piece on Becky here: http://ow.ly/qgZO50wTrKB

This year’s Light A Fire Award winners will be honored at a gala event on November 21st, presented by Bank of America! More information about the event is available here: http://ow.ly/IgED50wTrKA

Congratulations, Becky!