Bob and Terry Roos wanted to make a meaningful impact and establish new routines during their retirement, so they kept an eye out for volunteer opportunities. One day, while at their local library, they saw a Help At Your Door poster, which instantly sparked their interest.
Bob explained what drew them to our organization: “Terry interacted with seniors a lot in her career, and she enjoyed that. She developed a certain admiration for older people, with all they’ve been through. Helping elderly people stay in their homes seemed like a worthy goal, and the work sounded like something we could do.”
Four and a half years ago, they joined the more than 500 volunteers who assist in providing basic needs that help to support the people we serve. The first volunteer role they took on with Help At Your Door was as Shoppers. Each week, they would select items at the grocery store based on the clients’ orders, reviewing individual preferences and making substitutions as needed. After picking the items, volunteer Shoppers partner with one another to double-check the accuracy of the orders and assist in the check-out process.
As for many of us, the global lockdown in 2020 led Bob and Terry to reevaluate and make some tough decisions, which impacted their volunteer work. They share, “Once the pandemic hit, we felt the need to step back for the time being.”
A year later, an email from Help At Your Door arrived in their inbox, asking if Bob and Terry were open to a different volunteer opportunity: Grocery Helpers. This option suited them, and they were excited to start.
Bob and Terry provide clients with a familiar and friendly presence in this role while ensuring their grocery needs are met. They pick up packed food orders from the grocery store in Bloomington, drive to the client’s home, and help unpack food into the refrigerator and pantry. Bob and Terry also check in with the clients to ensure their well-being.
On average, as a Grocery Shopper, they deliver food to two clients, donating an hour and a half of time per week. Bob and Terry find the time they give back is well spent, reflecting, “We like getting to know the clients, and we usually feel like we’re brightening their day a bit. It helps us to get outside of our little sphere and routine and help someone else, albeit in a modest way. We also enjoy seeing the other volunteers and the Help At Your Door staff members when we pick up orders at the store weekly.”
One of their food deliveries was to Lance, who lived in a high-rise apartment building and was initially reserved. Over time, though, Lance warmed up to Bob and Terry, looking forward to their visits. Bob reminisces, “He often had quite large orders, and we used to joke with him about that, which he enjoyed. He had a good sense of humor, often self-effacing. Most of the time, when we brought the food up, he was sitting in the elevator lobby near his apartment, looking out the window [for us].”
When asked what they would say to someone interested in donating their time to our organization, Bob and Terry replied, “We would say that we’ve found volunteering with Help At Your Door to be very rewarding for a modest investment of time and energy. It has become an important part of our lives.”
Bob and Terry, we are grateful for your time, effort, and dedication to the community we serve. Thank you so much for volunteering with our organization.
Want to learn more about volunteer opportunities with Help At Your Door? For information about specific roles, read our volunteer webpage or contact us at 651-642-1892 or volunteer@helpatyourdoor.org.
