Give a little bit: Students provide free shopping, delivery
Candy Puterbaugh
50plus Magazine
Grocery shopping for his grandmother last year changed Neel Jain’s world. Because of her age and asthma, Neel and his family wanted to help keep Covid from her door. Within a month, that act of kindness kindled his nonprofit, PDX Concierge, which has since brought groceries to more than 700 doors.
“I was happy to help my grandmother but then realized there are many other people in the community without family support,” says Neel. “I did all deliveries that first month but then the service snowballed, and I found friends to help. I thought it would be local, but a lot of people wanted help.”
Now a high school senior, Neel and up to 100 teen volunteers, plus his older brother and parents, have served mostly senior citizens in more than seven cities from Portland and Vancouver to as far south as Roseburg. The 1½-year-old nonprofit shops and provides free grocery delivery to the elderly, disabled and immunocompromised.
Clients give their grocery lists online or by phone to volunteers, who shop while wearing gloves and face masks, delivering to each doorstep within a few days. Clients reimburse volunteers the cost of the groceries, often offering a tip for the service. Later the volunteer calls the recipient to make sure things are going well.
“Each new client usually receives a handwritten note from a volunteer saying hello, we’re here for you, stay safe,” Neel says. “We receive many smiles, thank-you notes and flowers. A small act of kindness can go a long way.”
The grassroots nonprofit has garnered awards, grants, donations, and been featured on local and national news, including “Good Morning America” and “MSNBC Live.”
PDX Concierge has delivered groceries to a 94-year-old woman without family, an elderly man who had been homeless, and a retired veteran who served and was injured during the Vietnam War.
“I always liked creating things as a kid,” Neel says. “My parents taught me to work hard, help others, pursue my dreams and take risks. Getting to know our clients has been life-changing for me. It has shifted my perspective as a person, and I’m happy to have built lifelong friendships.”
Neel is looking for more clients and volunteers of any age. If interested, visit pdxdeliver.com, email pdxconcierge2020@gmail.com or call 971-347-7778.
Home-based foodbank pays it forward
Kristan Dael
50plus Magazine
For years, a humble white with purple trim corner home in NE Portland has been the site of a neighborhood foodbank. Husband and wife James (55) and Colise (56) offer provisions daily to neighbors — especially seniors and families with children — including meat, produce, baked, canned and dairy goods, and even pet food.
They also provide up to 150 sack lunches each week. “For these we have a constant need for chips and snacks,” says Colise, describing snacks as granola bars, Chex mix, fruit rollups and the like.
Married 20 years, their home was built by Habitat for Humanity in 1999. “It was the first accessible Habitat home,” says Colise, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and equinus foot, a condition in which the feet point down and the heels can’t reach the floor due to shortened muscles.
For the past 12 years, the couple has provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to local families and individuals. This year, Thanksgiving dinners — including a turkey, potatoes, gravy mix, canned veggies, butter or margarine and a dessert — were provided to 25 families. They are currently collecting the same ingredients to provide Christmas meals. Some donors provide grocery gift cards, food or cash, while others help pack or deliver the meals.
“They’re simple meals,” says Colise, but they matter.”
The operation runs like clockwork, working informally in partnership with nearby churches and food pantries. Like any organization, tracking is important. “I keep a list of volunteers picking up foods, making or transporting boxes, and specific things donated, like turkeys,” says Colise. With ease they can report the number of people fed on a given day, which on a recent Monday was 107.
Proud of their pantry, Colise hopped onto a chairlift to her second floor to show the goods that would soon be feeding local families.
“This is a hand up, not a handout,” she says, explaining that she loves being of service because “it was done for me when I was a single mother of two.”
James offers, “When I was young, I’d run into a homeless person. Everyone used to look out for each other. It’s not like that now.”
“Bottom line,” says Colise, “We just want to help.” She asked that it be noted that she and James collect pop cans for gas money. “That’s how we keep this going.”
To contribute food or resources or to help pack or deliver meals, call 503-810-8907 (leave a message).