Entertained While Giving Back? Store to Door...
We have all heard the phrase, “killing two birds with one stone.“ and while I am in no way shape or form advocating the killing of birds…I do want to highlight a great activity that not only provides a source of hard to find, outside the home entertainment these days, but also helps the local community. What I’m talking about is this wonderful organization, Store to Door of Oregon (www.storetodooroforegon.org), that organizes the shopping and delivery of groceries to people that are unable to shop on their own. Founded in 1989 to serve people living in low-income, senior housing, this great org has made over 193,000 deliveries to over 10,000 recipients. Bravo! And now, with the coronavirus? This volunteer work is needed more than ever. In contrast, you may be someone in need of grocery delivery yourself, so Store to Door can get you signed up for that as well.
Store to Door was founded in 1989 when a handful of people living in low-income senior housing, unable to shop on their own, requested assistance from the community. Over the years we have grown to reach hundreds of clients with our weekly service. Today, 100% of our clients are homebound, 93% live alone, 80% are considered low-income and 80% are women. (from the StoreToDoorOfOregon.org website)
Many people are in-home sheltering due to the coronavirus, either by mandate or by choice. Reasons ranging from being in a high risk group for contracting the virus, to actually recovering from COVID-19, have driven the demand for volunteer shoppers much higher. Indeed we will get through this, but organizations like Store To Door, and the volunteers and philanthropy they foster, are one of the true keys. But as the titles suggests, it’s a great, heart-warming activity to partake in.
How to Volunteer at Store To Door
The process of volunteering is very easy. One simply goes to the volunteer page link and signs up to be either a volunteer shopping list taker, shopper or delivery driver. Communication from Store to Door then ensues and the coordination is smooth and easy. If you’re shopping, I’ve been told that the grocery lists are very detailed and show exactly where each item is within the store, so there is no frustrated walking around trying to find an odd product. Occasionally an item on the list might be out of stock, and in that case the shopper is asked to call the recipient directly…to discuss an alternative item. Having spoken with one person that has done volunteer shopping with this organization several times, she told me that anytime she has had to call a recipient they are always so incredibly thankful and appreciative. Everyone wins in this situation. The shopping itself takes place at one of two Fred Meyer locations (Hollywood or Beaverton Town Center), depending on the recipients address.
Volunteer grocery list making, shopping or delivery driving for others in need is a great family activity because, beyond the list taking, everyone can get out of the house. The family activity element is most amplified with the volunteer shopping activity of course, where folks get to walk around inside a warm Fred Meyer store, protected from the rain and cold, all the while discussing and generating that especially warm feeling that comes from helping others and giving back to the community. Depending on the day, there could be anywhere from 50 to over 100 different shopping lists that must be made, shopped for and delivered. Volunteers are welcomed and needed! In fact, it’s not just individuals and families doing this great, volunteer work. Rather, organizations have been sponsoring this activity taking responsibility for entire days worth of Store to Door activity. Bravo I say. See the list of standout companies on the home page of StoreToDoorOfOregon.org.
Check out this Facebook link for Store to Door that has a lot of great pictures and details about people and organizations shopping and delivering for others. Can you just see the warmth and emanating off of their hearts?
More Information and Links for Store to Door
Here are some useful links to further explore Store to Door of Oregon. Enjoy and have fun giving back (or getting deliveries if you are in need!):
Store to Door of Oregon Website (main)
How to Volunteer
Where to Donate
Sign up to Receive Deliveries
Store to Door is Proactively Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)