Volunteer Spotlight: Pat Tibbetts-Blair

This month, we caught up with Pat Tibbetts-Blair. Pat has been volunteering with Store to Door since 2015. She is an indispensable help in many ways, and even does the accounting on Thursdays in Beaverton!

Q: How long have you volunteered with Store to Door? What have you been helping us with?
A: I think I started February 2015. I started off under Nancy’s tutelage by putting the aisle number on the shopping lists. A few weeks later I went to the Hollywood store to see the layout and created a master aisle matrix. A couple years later we started shopping at the Beaverton store, and I went on a recon to learn the aisles at this store as none of the stores have the same layout. When the Beaverton store came online, I was checking the shoppers carts for accuracy. Most recently I have started doing the accounting on the clients receipts.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Everyone is very friendly and really care about the people they are helping, from the order takers, to Sue making sure coupons are attached, to the actual shopping of the order, to the ultimate delivery to the client. The drivers I have met at the Thursday Beaverton store really take care of their clients and some times sneak little “goodies” into the order…flowers, a pack of M&Ms, little things that mean a lot to the client.

Q: What is on your calendar that you are excited about this year?
A: I have two trips scheduled to warm, sunny places before mid May. ?

Q: If you had only one sense (sight, hearing, touch, etc) which would you want and why?
A: Sight – you can learn to read lips, and see people’s body language, you can work on the computer, you can see the change of the seasons.

Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
A: The Cat is Out of the Bag (actual work in progress)

Q: When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?
A: One of my other volunteer jobs is with Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood. I enjoy working with animals and frequently have foster cats and kittens in my extra bedroom. I also enjoy bird watching and am usually out early in the morning during the summer time.

Volunteer Spotlight: Michele Skankey

This month, we caught up with Michele Skankey. Michele has been an administrative volunteer in the office since 2016. She happily tackles any project we throw her way and she has been an immense help!

Q: How long have you volunteered with Store to Door? What have you been helping us with?
A: I believe I started about fall of 2016. I have been helping with administrative data entry. She teaches me new things all the time.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I feel like I am doing a good service for a fabulous charity organization that helps so many and could help more if the word got out. Amanda, Mary, and everyone I come into contact with here is so sweet and welcoming and I can see why they work for this amazing organization because they are a certain type of compassionate people who make everyone feel very important.

Q: What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue?
A: I used to run, ski, waterski, rock climb, play tennis, hike and be incredibly active. My husband and I met in a band and we love to play at blues jams in town and are always actively looking for people to “play” with. That is my true love: music. But I have back issues that are pretty disabling and keep me from doing what I love. I would definitely travel, travel, travel! I do quilt, but would love to buy a long arm machine quilter which are way too much for my budget.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read recently?
A: I have been reading a book called Brain Rules, which is just fascinating!

Q: If you could turn anything into an Olympic sport, what would it be and why?
A: Wow, interesting question . . . I would love to see rock climbing! My husband used to be an avid rock climber, climbed the east face of Mt Whitney and was President of the rock climbing club in college. There are many kids now that push the limits of their bodies, free-climbing in one day some places in Yosemite that used to take days.

Q: What is one place to visit on your bucket list and why should we add it to ours?
A: Oh my, so many! I lived in Taiwan for almost 3 years and traveled all over that region of the world. If you ever could make it to the Great Wall, it is so much grander than pictures can depict. But on my bucket list are the Maldives for snorkeling, diving; Ukraine/Yugoslavia/Croatia because I understand they are so beautiful; the Swiss alps, skiing from top of a mountain, taking all day to ski down the mountain stopping at all the little chalets along the way; and bareboat Sailing in Thailand! (Which I have done but would do it over and over!)

Sharing the Love!

On February 14^th, 2017 Store to Door launched the LoVE (Long-term Volunteer Excellence) League. The LoVE League recognizes exceptional volunteers who have been involved with our work for 5 or more years. This year for the first time we are including those who have given 500+ hours of volunteer time– a tremendous achievement!

Throughout the month of February, we’ll be recognizing these outstanding volunteers—we even went straight to the Store to Door clients they serve for the inside scoop!

Keep an eye out and give them a high-five the next time you see them.

Volunteer Spotlight: Kristy Haines

This month, we caught up with Kristy Haines. Kristy delivers to clients out of Hollywood Fred Meyer, and has been volunteering with us since 2016!

Q: How long have you volunteered with Store to Door? What have you been helping us with?
A: I have been volunteering with Store to Door for 2 years now. I am a proud Thursday morning delivery driver!

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: Being of service to my endearing customers is the best part of this gig. Getting to know everyone these past two years has been such a joy and blessing.

Q: If You Had A Theme Song, What Would It Be?
A: This question is a tricky one-but if I had to choose, I would choose something by Donna Summer or Earth, Wind, and Fire. Not that these artists really reflect my inner most self, but if the music was playing while I was out and about in public I can guarantee people would be dancing!

Q: When You Have 30 Minutes Of Free-Time, How Do You Pass The Time?
A: Give me a good book to read or get in me in the wilderness to hike!

Q: Who Is The Most Impressive Famous Person Alive Today? Why?
A: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-I find her writing and lectures out of this world! I believe her writing to be insightful, inspiring and very thought-provoking. She challenges the norms and gives a voice to people on the margins.

Volunteer Spotlight: Carol Haertlein

We got to catch up with Carol Haertline, who has been volunteering in the Store to Door office this fall, and get to know her a little bit better!

How long have you volunteered with Store to Door? What have you been helping us with?
I started as a shopper earlier this year. Then when Store to Door was looking for office support this fall, I stepped in to help in the office.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
I really enjoyed getting my steps in while shopping. And also the scavenger hunt aspect of it. In the office, it’s great to be so busy, to know I’m helping both the customers and staff. Always something new to learn.

What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?
Oh my so many choices. I think northern Arizona in the mountains in an aspen grove with a light breeze so the leaves quake. The sky is just incredibly blue.

What’s Your Favorite Childhood Book?
Harold and the purple crayon. What an imagination.

If You Could Have Dinner With Anyone From History, Who Would It Be?
I would actually love to have one more dinner with my dad. He was a fascinating, thoughtful, introspective man and I’d give a lot to hear his thoughts on the current state of the country.

Do you have a hidden talent or a special skill? A good party trick?
My weekends are spent teaching people to ride motorcycles. I learned 20 years ago, started teaching 15 years ago. Love of my life.

Thanks Carol!

Volunteer Spotlight: George Needham

Can you briefly describe your experience Volunteering with Store to Door?

I retired after 20 years at Nike in November 2016. I knew I wanted to get involved in some form of volunteering. I did some on-line research and found Store to Door. My first days of shopping were in April 2017. I’ve shopped every Wednesday and Thursday since. Minus a few while traveling, etc.

Has anything surprised you about your experience with Store to Door?

What surprised me was how much I enjoy it. I really love it.

Can you tell me about an older person (Grandparent etc.) who has had a particularly big impact on you personally?

My maternal Grandmother. She was the reason we all would get together a few times every year and those gatherings were really special.

If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Lobster, steak, pizza. Probably should replace the pizza with fruits and veggies.

What is your favorite wonderful (or terrible) movie, and why?

The 1951 movie, Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim. We watch it every Christmas Eve.

What do you think is the greatest invention of all time?

Fire. Just kidding. Probably computers. They’ve changed everything.

What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Read.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

An architect. Turns out I was terrible at math.

Volunteer Spotlight: Susie Perkins

How did you first encounter Store to Door?

I was Googling a service for my aging Mom in Miami, Florida and Store to Door Portland kept popping up. They don’t have anything like this in Miami so I knew I wanted to volunteer to help seniors just like her in her honor.

What has your experience been like Volunteering with Store to Door?

It’s awesome. I take orders, shop and deliver so I’m a triple threat. I have developed some amazing relationships with my clients and the other S2D volunteers (shout out to Bea!!)

Has anything surprised you about your experience with Store to Door?

It’s such a great service – I’m surprised more places don’t do it (like Miami!)

Can you tell me about an older person (Grandparent etc.) who has had a particularly big impact on you personally?

Both my parents have passed and had me late in life so Grandparents are a fuzzy memory. But I had the BEST parents and family and really an ideal childhood.

If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Spinach, broccoli and kale. Just kidding! Pizza, rye bread and chips and salsa. Also an Arnold Palmer to wash it down.

What is your favorite terrible movie, and why?

Tommy Boy and Caddy Shack. So many quotable lines.

What do you think is the greatest invention of all time?

Sliced bread – okay the wheel.

What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Stay dry.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

A roller skating queen… then teacher. Practical won out over the disco ball.

Store to Door is Deschutes Brewery’s Community Pints Partner for the month of January!

Visit Deschutes Brewery’s Portland Public House any Tuesday in January, and order a pint to support Store to Door!