For the month of November, we’re putting the spotlight on long-time volunteer, Leigh! We asked Leigh about her involvement with Store to Door, her holiday traditions, and the multiple ways in which she gets involved serving her community!

Q. How long have you been volunteering with Store to Door and what do you help us with? 

A. I have been volunteering with Store to Door for several years. I help shop at the Beaverton Fred Meyer and make calls for shopping orders.

Q. Which volunteer role with us is your favorite and why?  

A. I love calling my clients. Since it is the same group every week, we have gotten to know each other well. Many look forward to my call, not only to take their order, but also to talk with a friend. They are so appreciative of our organization and the care shown to them from all of us -the callers, shoppers, delivery drivers, and the administrative office staff. 

Q. You frequently bring along a furry friend while volunteering – tell us about your pup! 

A. I am a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind and have my pup with me at the office and while shopping. As a puppy raiser, I work with the pups from 9 weeks until 14-16 months when they return to the Guide Dog campus for their 3 + months of formal training. I used to bring Tahiti, a black lab brindle, who is now a working guide. She’s back in Portland and her handler is on my call list. I am currently raising Haviland, a yellow lab, who has become a regular at the office and shopping with me at Fred Meyer. 

Q. Any challenges to volunteering while also training? 

A. I love this organization and enjoy my volunteer jobs with Store to Door. They are also great working opportunities for my guide pups in training. The dogs are exposed weekly to office settings in a busy room with lots of people and several hours at Fred Meyer shopping, checking carts, and doing the belt line check out. 

Q. The holidays are approaching, what’s your favorite family holiday tradition and why? 

A. When my sons were young, we started doing ‘holiday adoptions’ for families at Albina Head Start. My boys are now 21 and 24 and they still go with me to deliver our gifts to the families. 

Q. Does you pup get spoiled during the holidays?  What’s a special treat your dog gets? 

A. We have a lot of guidelines to follow to prepare our pups for their formal guide dog training, but they have lots of time off at home to play, get lots of snuggles, and just be “dogs.” Their treats are tug toys to play with me or my pet dog, and always a new bone for Christmas.