Volunteer Spotlight: Richard Black

This month, we caught up with Richard Black, Store to Door Belt Loader and record-breaking guitarist! Since connecting with Store to Door in 2022 through his wife Tammy, Richard has given nearly 160 hours of volunteer time!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: My wife, Tammy Carpenter, had been volunteering with Store to Dppr for a couple of years or so. Most of my volunteer gigs dried up during COVID, and she said you are always looking for volunteers, so I thought I’d give it a try. Shopping has never been something I’ve particularly enjoyed, but there always seemed to be a need for belt-loading. That works pretty well for me.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I spend a lot of time doing woodworking. I also play soccer 3-4 times a week, and enjoy playing my guitar and mandolin. I also bake quite a bit, particularly rustic breads. We love to travel and do a lot of hiking as well.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: I was once in the Guinness Book of World Records as part of the world’s largest guitar ensemble – me and 519 other guitarists, that is. We gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square and played “This Land Is Your Land” non-stop for 1 hour in order to qualify. I’m not sure I’ve played that song since.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: It’s a pretty easy and straightforward job. What better than helping to get food to the tables of those in need! Also, the staff and other volunteers are simply a wonderful group to work with.

Volunteer Spotlight: Priscilla Stewart

This month, we had the chance to catch up with Store to Door Volunteer Priscilla Stewart! Priscilla has been volunteering with Store to Door since 2014, and has given more than 500 hours of her time since!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: Thank you for honoring me as a Store to Door Volunteer. I have been a remote order taker for many years. I heard about Store to Door from my husband Jerry, who has been a shopper and delivery person at the Hollywood Store for many more years than I’ve been involved. When I found out that they can use remote order takers, I jumped on the chance. At the time I signed on they had most of their order takers meeting at their office on Mondays or Tuesdays. I didn’t want to drive that far so I chose remote.

I’ve met many wonderful people over the years. I look forward to my Tuesday calls to visit with my friends and find out how they’re doing before taking their orders. My life has been enriched by knowing them.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: My other interests include digital scrapbooking. I’ve made digital scrapbooks for four grandkids since 2006. There are NO baby or young child pictures of me, so I wanted that for our grandkids. We also get together with our family as often as possible with Jerry doing the cooking. We also walk a lot and try to get 10,000 steps every day.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: One little known fact is that I campaigned for JFK in in his presidential campaign in 1959, when I was a senior in high school. I met him and received a personal message autograph from him when I met him at a supporter thank you in north Portland.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: When I meet someone who would love to meet some wonderful people and take their weekly orders, I would encourage them to give order taking a try. I feel that I’m part of my clients’ families.

Volunteer Spotlight: Roz and Dave Widney

For this month’s Volunteer Spotlight, we are happy to recognize Roz and Dave Widney! Since 2021, Roz and Dave have collectively given more than 550 hours of their time; volunteering as Shoppers, Delivery Drivers, Belt Loaders, and Food Box Order Takers, Roz and Dave have earned a reputation for stepping up wherever they are needed!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: We wanted to get more involved directly with the community and help serve those in need. We are both seniors, so we think about our future and who will be there to help us out.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: What keeps us busy when not volunteering three days a week are our five dogs!! Two big, beautiful huskies and three chi mixes. We also enjoy meeting with friends for lunch, game nights, and nature walks. We also spend time with some of our grandchildren who live fairly close. I(Roz) am also a volunteer with the city of Beaverton, on the social service committee, again getting involved directly with the community, and helping to decide about where the city’s grant monies to help non-profits.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: Both Dave and I volunteered at the Oregon Zoo for 13 years, before covid…BUT..we were really behind the scenes. We prepared the meals for: polar bears, sun bears, black bears, river otters, sea otters, mountain goats, seals, sea lions and cougars four days a week! We also delivered ”snow” to almost every animal in their habitats at the zoo. On Sundays we were team leaders so we brought other volunteers with us.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Store to Door is a great organization that truly helps people, especially seniors, in the community. You work with other volunteers, and you really feel like you are helping out. The clients appreciate all that we as volunteers do as well, and they say “thank you “all the time. It is fun and so needed by a LOT of folks.

Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Mycka

This month, we caught up with Mary Mycka who volunteers at our Hollywood Fred Meyer location as a shopper and checker, and who has given more than 125 hours of her time since connecting with Store to Door in 2022!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: I moved to Portland in 2020 after retiring, and had always looked forward to finding a volunteer opportunity that would fit for me.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I’m loving being retired with time to reclaim and renovate furniture, renovate my 50’s era home, cook from scratch, and shop farmers markets and vintage stores.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: Maybe not surprising, but definitely weird… I have been on the field at most every MLB and NFL stadium, but I haven’t been to very many games. And I am 2 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon 🙂

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I would encourage anyone who is looking for a well organized, productive, and meaningful volunteer opportunity to choose Store to Door.

Volunteer Spotlight: Brenda Gurfinkel

This month, we caught up with Brenda Gurfinkel, who is a Delivery Driver out of our Beaverton Fred Meyer location, and who also delivers as part of our free food box program! Brenda has given more than 64 hours of her time since joining Store to Door in October of 2022.

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: I was looking for volunteer opportunities in HandsOn Greater Portland and came across Store to Door.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I have two teenage kids, 17 and 18 and two dogs. I try to soak up as much time with them as possible as my daughter is leaving for college in August. We love to play board games together and do crosswords. I love to work out. I love being outside. I love doing home remodeling projects and love to travel!

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: I have my general contractors license and am very adept at doing household projects such as tiling, trim work, and electrical as well as interior design.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I would tell them to absolutely do it. All of the clients are so appreciative and really need this service. It is a great way to give back to the people and community that could use a helping hand. I find it very gratifying to see the impact it has each time I drop groceries off.

Big thanks to Brenda and all of our wonderful volunteers for making our work supporting homebound members of our community possible! If you are interested in getting involved, visit https://storetodooroforegon.volunteerhub.com/ to sign up today!

Volunteer Spotlight: Dagmar Dickey

This month, we caught up with Store to Door Volunteer Extraordinaire Dagmar Dickey. Dagmar wears multiple hats with S2D; she is a runner at Beaverton, a Friendly Caller, an Order Taker, and more. Huge thanks to Dagmar for all that she does for our homebound clients!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: My cousin got me interested in Store to Door nearly two years ago … I wasn’t working, I love grocery shopping, and so it seemed like a great reason to get out of the house each week. She and I would spend the morning together shopping for S2D clients and then afternoons just hanging out together.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: In 2021, after 30+ years working as an admin, I was laid off from my job with a local tech company. My husband wants to work until he can’t any longer so I am working on finding ways to keep myself busy until he is ready to join me in retirement. In addition to volunteering for S2D, I’ve reconnected with many knitting friends and meet with them weekly to see what progress we’ve each made on our projects. I love to read … mostly fiction, especially historical; I love jigsaw puzzles and playing word games (I try to reach Genius level without help in Spelling Bee every day and my husband and I try – mostly successfully, although it’s been tough lately – to keep our winning Wordle streak alive; we have a beautiful Golden Retriever who appreciates an opportunity to get her humans out for daily walks and long, bird-chasing strolls at the beach.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: I’m an avid sharer, so it’s hard to think there is anything about me that would surprise my fellow volunteers. One thing they might not think true is the fact that I do love me a Quentin Tarantino movie … I’m thinking Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Q: French fries or Tater Tots?
A: Yes please … made with sweet potatoes please!

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: There are so many out there who need volunteers like you and me to be working with organizations such as Store to Door. It’s such an easy thing (grocery shopping) and the folks (all the other volunteers; the employees; and the clients) you’ll meet along the way are quite wonderful too. Come on out and see for yourself how much fun you can experience; it’s really so rewarding to help others in this way!

Volunteer Spotlight: Cindy Vicente

Our Volunteer Spotlight this month is Cindy Vicente! Cindy shops with us at Hollywood Fred Meyer, is a member of our LoVE League, and has been volunteering since 2017!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: I did some volunteering before: PBOT for Sunday Parkways, Peninsula Park Rose Garden, decorated floats for Rose Festival, Christmas projects with Hands on Portland. It was through the latter that I found out about S2D and felt it would be a great project to get involved with when I retired. (While employed I was part of a volunteer non-profit group which provided assistance to employees in need through various fundraisers during the year. Our Christmas baskets was our biggest annual project. We bought food and clothing for the families).

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: When I’m not volunteering I try to fit in 3-4 walks during the week. Get outside. It’s great this time of year to see the plants and flowers come to life. I am involved with some walk groups that do 10ks and other walks in different parts of town and beyond. But solo walks are great too. I try to stay socially active with friends.Try to stay mentally active. I enjoy Wordle, Jumble, crosswords. I like to read books on health, etc.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: I grew up on Kauai with 85° most days. I moved to Oregon in 1970 and really enjoy the moderate change of seasons here. I am 70+ and now appreciate cooler days especially for walking. I don’t even mind walking in the Portland rain or during the winter cold.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Being a part of S2D is a way to be involved with a wonderful community project. Knowing you are doing a good deed for others is great food for the soul. (And, for me, getting some extra steps in at the same time!)

Volunteer Appreciation!

Happy National Volunteer Week!

As a volunteer-based organization since 1989, Store to Door’s work is made directly possible by the involvement of all of our volunteers. In 2022, more than 1,200 volunteers gave nearly 22,000 hours of their time as grocery shoppers, delivery drivers, friendly callers, and more.

Our vision of a Portland community in which all people are able to age safely in the setting of their own choosing is only possible with the support of our wonderful volunteers each and every week.

THANK YOU!

Interested in volunteering with Store to Door? Visit our volunteer portal get involved sustaining homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities today!

Volunteer Spotlight: Carol Eggerss

This month, we caught up with Carol Eggerss, who has volunteered nearly 100 hours since connecting with Store to Door—and who volunteered for years at a similar organization also called Store to Door in Minnesota!

Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: When I retired in Minnesota in 2012, I became aware of Store to Door (now Help at Your Door) in Mpls/St Paul. I signed up as an order taker, trained and volunteered with them weekly for 9 years. Several months before my husband and I moved to Portland in 2021, we were visiting our daughter here and saw a Store to Door van in a Fred Meyer parking lot. I researched online and decided that I wanted to join this team when we got settled. I’m still not sure if there is any connection between the two organizations, but I wanted to support our new community and it seemed like that van and I crossed paths for a reason.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Food keeps me busy. LOL I especially love to bake, but really all things food are interesting. I read for cooking inspiration, plan meals, cook dinner more often than not (my husband is great at cleaning up my messes), bake for friends and family and enjoy exploring some of the great food in Portland. Sammy is our 7-year old Chihuahua who enjoys at least one long walk and several short breaks each day and is a great road-tripper. We also enjoy traveling as much as time allows.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: As a teenager in small town southwest Iowa, my summer job was walking through acres of soybean fields with a curved corn knife (machete) to remove very large weeds, sunflowers and cornstalks so the harvest would be “clean”. (Note: This was years before genetic modification changed agricultural practices.) The crew started at 5 a.m. and finished before the sun was too intense. This left the afternoon open to hang out with friends at the public pool. And the pay was great…$1.25/hour! ;D

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Do it! I love the order-taking role because it’s interesting to chat with the clients and I’m comfortable using the online ordering system. Others may enjoy a different role, but together, the entire organization is fulfilling a remarkable service for wonderful people who otherwise may not be able to live independently. I can’t tell you how many of my clients express their appreciation every single week. Volunteering with Store to Door brings me joy.

Volunteer Spotlight: David Bell

This month, we caught up with Volunteer Delivery Driver David Bell! David has been a longtime driver out of our Beaverton location, and has given more than 280 hours of time since connecting with Store to Door in 2020!

Q: How did you first get involved with S2D?
A: I was looking for a way to become involved in my community and to use the 40 hours a year that my employer gives every employee. I found a listing in volunteerhub for delivery drivers for store to door and I thought it would be fun to do and get me out of my downtown office each week for a few hours. What I found is that I really enjoyed seeing and checking in with my delivery clients each week.

Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Staying busy outside of delivering is not a problem. I work for a wealth management and trust company downtown as the director of operations. Something different every day. I have two daughters who I love spending time with. Also two big dogs who make sure I have plenty to clean around the house everyday.

I enjoy home improvement projects, traveling, gardening and entertaining. There is also my obsession with Costco.

Q: What is something that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know about you?
A: I recently bought a 1969 Buick Riviera that I am working on.. my goal is to take it for a nice summer road trip down the Oregon coast.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: If someone is thinking about volunteering – I encourage them to take the leap. You’ll love the connections and clients and fellow volunteers. Even if you’ve got a few hours a month to give .. it will help and make an impact.