3rd Annual Giving Tree Event Brings Holiday Cheer for Homebound Clients!

On Friday, December 10th, more than 25 Store to Door volunteers and staff joined forces to shop for gifts as part of Store to Door’s third annual Giving Tree event!

Sponsored by Umpqua Bank, this year’s Giving Tree will bring holiday cheer to 75 homebound members of our community when gifts are delivered by another wonderful crew of volunteers and staff this week.

Huge thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who have chipped in to make this happen. This opportunity was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our partners at Umpqua Bank. Thank you everyone who helped bring some holiday joy to the homebound clients Store to Door serves!

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.

Donate to our Start Your Carts campaign today

Beloved Board Member Eumi Wymbs Steps Down

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.

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!

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: 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.

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!