This month, we reached out to Glen York, one of our longest-tenured volunteers. This March, Glen celebrates his 21 year anniversary with our program! We are so grateful for Glen’s commitment to supporting our clients and our work, and look forward to a future in which we can see him around the office again!
Q: How did you first get involved with Store to Door?
A: During my working years, I was unable to undertake any routine volunteer positions. When I retired in 2000, I started looking for a volunteer position with children and one with seniors. I performed a weekly instructional puppet show in grade school for 12 years with ‘Kids on the Block.’ Fortunately, I found a recruitment notice in The Oregonian for Store to Door and have been an order taker ever since.
Q: What are you looking forward to most when restrictions are lifted on our community?
A: Besides having dinners at restaurants with my friends, I am looking forward to resuming my volunteer position as an usher at six Portland theaters. It’s a way of supporting the theaters and I get to see free shows!
Q: What’s a fun fact (hobby, talent, travel) that you’d like to share?
A: I have appeared in 55 theatrical productions, mostly musicals. The biggest shows were the summer productions at The Rose Garden amphitheater that drew audiences of 10,000 people (and lots of dogs).
Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: That is an easy question because I am a huge fan of S2D and have recommended it to many people over the years. I think that S2D’s core mission of providing groceries for people who are unable to shop for themselves is desperately needed. Many of our clients could not continue to live independently if it were not for S2D.
Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I love my interaction with our clients. I have had the same client list for over a year. I have been calling some of those folks every Tuesday for over 10 years. We have a wonderful connection.
Q: Do you have any special memories of your time with Store to Door?
A: I had a client for a couple of years, “Judy,” who became a good friend during our weekly visits. When she passed away, I went to her funeral. It was a small gathering, and when it was over, I intended to slip away quietly so that I wouldn’t intrude on the family. As I left the building, a lady approached me and asked if I was Glen. To my immense surprise, she told me that “Judy”, her mother, had often spoken to her about me and our conversations every Tuesday. Other family members approached us and echoed her sentiments. It was a stunning reminder to me of the impact and importance of the S2D program.