This month, we caught up with long-time Store to Door volunteer John Cushing—aka Grandpa John! A fixture on delivery days at our Hollywood location, Grandpa John has been delivering to Store to Door Clients since 2012, and has logged more than 800 hours of service in that time! We are so grateful for the indelible impact that John has had on the Store to Door community, and for the impact he has on clients he delivers to!
Q: How did you first get involved with S2D?
A: I first learned about Store to Door at a Volunteer Expo at Pioneer Square in 2012. I deliver for Store to Door on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. I deliver food boxes from the Open Bible Church food pantry to people in Gresham and Troutdale; this program is also run by Store to Door. On Mondays, I volunteer at Oregon Humane Society.
Q: What keeps you busy when you are not volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I play music with a small group of people and I am also currently rehearsing with the Portland Megaband for a concert in March. I read books and play chess and Yahtzee on the Internet. On Thursdays, my grandchildren come to visit and we have dinner together.
Q: Any favorite dish you made or local favorite restaurants you got delivery from during the pandemic?
A: We order Thai food from Thai Seasons every now and then.
Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking of volunteering with Store to Door?
A: I would tell someone who is thinking of Volunteering with Store to Door that it is an excellent opportunity to develop a sense of gratitude, as well as a connection to other people. It reinforces the concept that everyone can be of service in some way.
Thank you Grandpa John!