This month, we sat down with Doug Hatch! Doug has been volunteering as a shopper with Store to Door for nearly 18 months and has become a valued member of our shopping team at the Beaverton Fred Meyer. Thank you, Doug!

Q: How long have you volunteered with Store to Door and what role do you help us with?

A: I began with Store to Door mid-2018. It was through my employer, First Tech FCU. They organized a team to volunteer through their community outreach office. We’ve done several through First Tech but most of my volunteering has been individually. I am a volunteer shopper at the Beaverton Town Center Fred Meyer store.

Q: What do you enjoy about your volunteer experiences?

A: I feel that they best thing I can give of is my time and my desire to help someone in need. When I am volunteering, I feel connected to the client. I put myself in their shoes. Food can be a very personal thing with many people, be it a certain brand or specific flavor. And clients are relying on me to get what they wish to have. That’s why I take great care in trying to find exactly what they are looking for. I enjoy that satisfaction of helping provide them with what they want and need.

Q: How do you balance volunteering during a work day?

A: Well it works out quite well. I work from 10-7 on Wednesdays so the 8-10 shopping works out perfectly.

Q: We’re about to enter the rainy season here in Portland, are you #TeamUmbrella?

A: I’m sorry to say I don’t know what that is, but in rainy weather I use a Columbia rain jacket with a hood. It’s the first thing I bought when I moved here from the East Coast.

Q: What’s your favorite cold-weather food or drink to stay warm?

A: nice spicy bowl of chili!

Q: Let’s all imagine fun and sun…you’re going to the beach, what’s one thing you bring every time?

A: Six pack IPA, a beach towel, and my dog Tink, a Maltese-lhasa mix who loves the beach. She’ll run up to the water and when a wave starts to come in she’ll bark at it until it gets close then backs up quickly.