Store to Door COVID Policy Update 7.30.21
We recognize that while Washington County and Multnomah County, where we operate, have vaccination rates of 75% of people over age 18, the Oregon Health Authority on July 27, 2021, guidance recommends universal mask use for all public indoor settings. The recommendation, not mandate, was issued in response to a significant jump in cases and hospitalizations and mirrors guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new national guidance calls for masking measures to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant. Following the lead of the CDC, the Oregon Health Authority recommends universal mask use in public indoor settings throughout the state to protect Oregonians from COVID-19. As a result, the following are the modified Store to Door COVID policies. These changes reflect the input of the Senior management team and key program staff members. The revised policy is effective August 2, 2021.

Update 6.12.21
With Governor Brown’s issuing Executive Order No. 21-15 (text here), all remaining COVID-19 restrictions have been rescinded. The governor has outlined the continuing state efforts to support ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, response, and recovery. In response to this, Oregon OSHA has issued revised rules for workplace protections related to COVID-19 (text here). In response, Store to Door has updated its COVID-19 policies for practices in the office, stores, and delivery drivers. The new policies are effective July 12th, 2021.

Update 6.28.21:
On June 30, 2021, at 12:01 am, the Governor’s executive order will lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions issued under emergency statutes (see here), including social distancing and mask mandates.  From the beginning of the pandemic, Store to Door has followed the guidance of local, state, and federal health authorities in order to prioritize the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff members. In light of the Governor’s latest order, Store to Door will soon be revising our COVID policies to reflect the current public health guidelines.  We will announce the updated policies next week to provide advance notice to clients, volunteers, and staff about changes to our operations and provide clear guidelines for deliveries to clients, program store sites, and work in the office.

In the meantime, while the Governor’s order takes effect on Wednesday, Store to Door will not be making any changes to our safety protocols this week. Store to Door will still require volunteer shoppers, drivers, and staff members to continue wearing masks and maintain social distance. 

Thank you to our community for its continued support of our program during the pandemic. For questions or concerns about this policy, please contact Mark Fulop: 503-200-3333 ext. 101, or email Mark(at)Storetodooroforegon.org

Update 5.21.21:
Store to Door has reviewed and clarified its policy regarding masks in light of the recent changes in CDC and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) COVID-19 guidelines. Store to Door is continuing its policy of requiring masks while participating in program activities, as previously stated in Store to Door policies on this page.

We would like to reiterate the previously stated information:

1. All volunteers and staff attending an in-person shift are required to wear a mask.  The mask requirement rule applies to all shopping and other in-store activities and Delivery Drivers.  Currently, all Friendly Callers and Order Takers are completing their shifts remotely and therefore do not need to wear a mask.  All employees, staff members, and volunteers must wear a mask while in the Store to Door office.

As of 5/20/2021, Fred Meyer has stated the following:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The Kroger Family of Companies’ most urgent priority has been the safety of our associates and customers. Last week, the CDC issued new guidance for individuals who have been fully vaccinated. In accordance with the guidance from the State of Oregon, we will continue to require customers and associates to wear masks in our Oregon stores at this time. We will continue to review the situation and make adjustments in order to ensure the safety of our associates and customers.

If you have a medical exemption from wearing a mask, we welcome you to support our work from your home as an Order Taker or making calls in our volunteer Friendly Caller program.  For the health and safety of Fred Meyer employees and customers, our staff members, and our volunteers, we cannot allow working in the stores or as a driver without a mask, even with a medical exemption.

2. COVID-19 Staff and Volunteer Infection Notification Process: Our notification policy complies with all local, state, and federal guidelines and reflects the practices of similar volunteer-based organizations in our community. If a volunteer or staff member notifies Store to Door they have tested positive for COVID-19, we require the person to quarantine until their healthcare provider gives medical clearance.

We are required to tell employees and volunteers of the positive test if the staff member or volunteer “were within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID-19 individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more.” If we assess that the employee or volunteer does not meet that threshold, we will not inform staff and volunteers of the positive test result.

3. COVID-19 Client Infection Notification Process: Our notification policy includes three steps:

1. We will contact the Delivery Driver and let them know that a client on their route has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
2. We will encourage the Delivery Driver to talk to their healthcare professional to discuss their exposure risk and the appropriate healthcare steps related to the risk (if any).
3. We will enforce a 14-day volunteer absence for the Delivery Driver from the date of exposure.

Update 5.14.21
On May 13th, the CDC announced new recommendations concerning wearing masks by vaccinated people. Kate Brown stated that Oregon would follow these new recommendations. You may be wondering what, if anything, changes regarding the policies of Store to Door. Governor Brown stated in her remarks:

“In the coming days, the Oregon Health Authority will be providing updated guidance for businesses, employers, and others to allow the option of lifting mask and physical distancing requirements after verifying vaccination status. Some businesses may prefer to simply continue operating under the current guidance for now, rather than worrying about verifying vaccination status, and that’s fine.

When the guidance is released, Store to Door can formulate an updated COVID-19 policy for our agency. For the present time, there is no change to the Store to Door policies. Our current policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and visitors to the Store to Door Office.  We continue to require social distancing and masks in the office, Fred Meyer Stores, or making client deliveries.  While these new recommendations are promising, we need some time to consider the forthcoming guidelines related to this new announcement. 

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Update 3.08.21
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. The recommendations state that “for now, fully vaccinated people should continue to take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing.”  Because of this and other social recommendations made by CDC, Store to Door will continue to enforce our mandates for maintaining social distance, wearing masks, and the use of hand sanitizers for all staff members and volunteers, even if staff members and volunteers are fully vaccinated.  We remain committed to protecting the health and safety of everyone working to make our program a success.

Updated 2.24.21
COVID vaccines are becoming available, and in Oregon, nearly 560,000 people are either fully immunized or have received at least one vaccine dose. To assist the community’s access to accurate vaccination information, Store to Door, in partnership with the Madeleine Parish & School, can help our clients navigate the vaccination process. We can help Store to Door clients book an appointment and/or answer questions. For more information, contact Cassie Sorensen, our Program Director at cassie(at)storetodooroforegon.org, or follow this link to our Community Outreach Flyer.

While the COVID pandemic appears to be moving into a new phase that allows limited reopening of public spaces, Store to Door remains vigilant in protecting the health and well-being of staff members, volunteers, and the community members receiving our services. We continue to practice and require volunteers to practice proper mask use, social distancing and enhanced sanitation in our office, stores, and grocery deliveries.

Updated 12.7.20
On December 7th, Store to Door held an all-staff training on our COVID-19 policies and procedures, covering all topics required in compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health and Administrative Rules AO 3-2020. Slides for this training are available here.

Updated 11.18.20
As we work to update our policies to minimize the potential exposure of our clients, volunteers and staff, we continue to monitor and reinforce the policies that we have outlined previously. This update is in response to the revised rules issued by the state that will be in place from November 16, 2020 – May 4, 2021. (available online here). The Store to Door Senior Management Team has reviewed the rules to ensure we are compliant with all rules and new requirements, including developing a staff training session. In both Fred Meyer shopping locations, we also operate under the policies of the stores (available online here).

In this update we want to underscore that we continue to promote and enforce Physical distancing. All employees and volunteers must maintain a distance of 6 feet or more to carry out their job and volunteer duties.  We continue to evaluate our Office space and our workflow practices in the Fred Meyer stores to ensure social distancing and, where possible, minimize the time that employees and volunteers are working in close proximity.

We also want to underscore our longstanding practice of requiring the proper use of a mask as a face-covering. We require all individuals (including employees and volunteers) to wear a mask in our office, in our stores and when making client deliveries.  Mask requirements include moving around the office for even simple tasks like using the restroom or using the printer. Staff, volunteers and drivers must wear a mask at all times in the stores or making deliveries. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control guidance, the mask requirement includes children of volunteers who are two years of age or older.

If you are a volunteer with a medical exemption from wearing a mask, we welcome you to support our work as a volunteer from your home as an order-taker or making calls in our volunteer Friendly Caller program.  For the health and safety of Fred Meyer employees, customers, our staff members, and our other volunteers, we cannot allow volunteers in the stores or as a driver without a mask, even if the volunteer has a medical exemption.

We continue our ongoing practices of cleaning and sanitation. Hand sanitizers are available both in the office and the two stores.  We encourage all staff and volunteers to use sanitizer frequently.  In the office, we follow the cleaning protocol at least once a day.  Cleaning is a nonnegotiable for those of us in the office.  We have assigned a list of responsibilities, and we are on a daily sanitizing schedule wiping everything down and cleaning the bathroom. We have revised cleaning practices to ensure that we comply. In the stores, we follow sanitizing practices by frequently wiping down equipment.

We have established a COVID-19 infection and notification process for staff, volunteers and staff members. If a volunteer or staff member reveals that they have tested positive for COVID, they are required to quarantine until their healthcare provider gives medical clearance. Oregon rules require to tell employees, and volunteers of the positive test if staff members or volunteers “were within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID-19 individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more.”  If a client reports testing positive, we also have process to notify the drivers of a potential exposure.

Our practices have allowed us to increase the number of seniors and those with disabilities served, without interruption since the COVID Pandemic began last March. With the increase in the number of COVID cases, our Senior Management Team is doing all we can to be transparent and protect the health and safety of our clients, volunteers, and staff. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (503)200-3333. Thank you for your understanding.

Updated 9/28/2020

As Multnomah County continues to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, Store to Door monitors, and adapts our practices to ensure the health and safety of our staff and volunteers as necessary. In our office, we continue to stagger our staff schedules to maintain safe social distancing and have invested in technology to allow staff members to work from home effectively. Masks are required in the office when staff members or volunteers are close to each other. We also continue to practice safe-distancing and follow enhanced cleaning practices. 

In stores, the use of hand sanitizers and the wearing of masks continue to be required for staff and volunteers shopping and delivering to seniors. Store to Door provides sanitizer and masks to those who do not bring their own. Thanks to the ongoing and generous donations from the Renaissance Foundation, our delivery drivers have access to KN95 masks.

We continue to follow a no-contact delivery model and have added a volunteer-driven friendly caller program to reduce the social isolation of the clients we serve. 

Thank you for helping us stay safe and providing us ongoing feedback that helps us improve our safety practices!

Updated 06/25/20
As you may know, Multnomah County entered Phase 1 on June 19, 2020, and, along with Washington and Clackamas counties, will remain in Phase 1 for at least three weeks. For Store to Door, this means little change to our current operations.  Staff and volunteers continue to practice safe-distancing and follow enhanced cleaning practices.  The use of hand sanitizers and the wearing of masks continues to be required for staff and volunteers shopping in stores and delivering to seniors. Store to Door also provides sanitizer and masks to those who do not bring their own. We continue to follow a no-contact delivery model and have added a volunteer-driven friendly caller program to reduce the social isolation of the clients we serve. 

The Oregon Health Authority recently issued a mandatory requirement to wear masks, face shield, or face coverings in public spaces. This mandate includes grocery stores. Store to Door already complies with this mandate. We have required all staff and volunteers to use masks since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its recommendation on May 1, 2020.  A similar store policy governs the employees of Fred Meyer (see here).

Updated 5/21/2020
Recently, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury stated that it was “unrealistic” to expect that Multnomah County will be reopening soon. For Store to Door, that means we will continue to implement our safety procedures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.  As you know, that means that we follow the guidelines of Centers for Disease Control, including maintaining social distancing and working remotely. For all volunteers and staff, we provide gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. We also continue enhanced cleaning in the office and making no-contact deliveries. Thank you for helping us stay safe and for providing us ongoing feedback that helps us improve our safety practices!

Updated 5/1/2020
Store to Door continues to take the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and clients seriously. We continue to adapt our prevention strategies to support the most recent recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the Oregon Health Authority. The Centers for Disease Control has issued guidance that recommends the use of cloth face coverings or masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (see here). We understand that this recommendation is essential, “especially in areas of significant community-based transmission (CDC statement).” Store to Door is seeking to make face masks available to all staff members and volunteers, shopping or delivering.

We encourage volunteers to bring a face mask to their volunteer service and will attempt to maintain an adequate supply of masks on shopping days for use by volunteers. We will prioritize drivers for the distribution of masks. All other safety precautions, including social distance, the availability of hand sanitizer, and gloves, will continue.

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).