STORE TO DOOR

Store To Door was started over 26 years ago by Dr. David Berger (PhD) of the Wilder Foundation, who found, in his community research, that seniors with health challenges and mobility issues could remain in their homes if provided with groceries. Elderly living with arthritis, osteoporosis, congestive heart failure or macular degeneration could get around their own homes but were not able to get themselves out to the grocery store, walk the aisles and transport groceries home.

Groceries being available to the homebound adult delineate a tipping point between staying at home or moving to congregate living.Home-delivered meal programs are helpful, but provide only one meal per day and do not address other food and household items needed to maintain independence.

We use a unique delivery model which relies heavily on the services of approximately 400 volunteers - a group of order-takers who help our clients (over the phone) pull together their order, and a group of shoppers who show up at one of five metro area Cub Foods early in the morning to get the shopping done. All deiveries (into our clients' homes) are done by paid staff. Store To Door differs from other services.

While some grocery stores offer delivery, none focus exclusively on the special needs of homebound adults. Online grocers do not serve customers lacking computer access or in need of extra help. Store To Door delivery staff brings groceries into clients’ kitchens. We unpack and put away, and loosen tight lids, if the client needs it.

Our service does more than deliver groceries. We provide, for anxious family members and the concerned community, several other “touch-points” for the elderly, somewhat isolated client. Our volunteer order-takers collect the shopping list, but also offer a friendly connection, a chance for a chat, and confirmation that things are OK with the client, especially if the client chooses not to order food that week.

Over the course of the year, order takers reach out to clients in over 25,000 phone calls, resulting in over 18,000 deliveries. Delivery staff also provides an additional set of eyes on individuals who may be experiencing safety or health issues of which others are unaware. If we are not able to reach a client over the course of two delivery cycles, the emergency contact identified when the client registers for the service is called so we can learn the client’s status.