Causes: Citizen Participation, Human Services, Senior Centers, Seniors, Thrift Shops

Mission: Having access to affordable, nutritious food, help around the home to keep it safe, and transportation to appointments for home-bound adults are all simple and basic needs. These are needs that many local elderly adults find difficult to meet because of age-related disabilities, lack of support systems and limited financial resources. Lack of reliable access to these areas of life can lead to loss of independence. Help At Your Door’s mission is to help seniors and individuals with physical disabilities to maintain their independence and continue living in their homes. We accomplish this by providing regular personal contact and access to nutritious food, home assessments for fall risks and repair work, and with a team of staff and vetted drivers, we are able to provide transportation assistance for seniors who are home-bound. Hundreds of volunteers help through a variety of ways including providing regular phone check-ins, grocery shopping and delivery, helping those who lack transportation to get back and forth safely to their homes, and helping with in-home chores to keep elderly adults independent. Through our Store To Door Grocery and Delivery Service, we accept SNAP benefits payment options and work with local food shelves to ensure that even the lowest income seniors have access to food. Through these services, we foster good nutrition and health, reduce isolation, and support independence among this rapidly growing population.

Results: The most important outcome of Help At Your Door's work is the independence that clients report as a result of receiving Help At Your Door's services. Each year we survey all clients and hear back from hundreds of people who have benefited from services:"I have been using Help At Your Door's services since my husband gave up driving in 2009.After his death in late 2009, I moved twice and was able to take Help At Your Door with me. Services continue to be helpful in every way. " Frances N. , age 91“Help At Your Door has been so good to Mom. They actually go way to the back door, up the stairs and bring the groceries right into the kitchen!” --Daughter of a Help At Your Door client"I am very thankful to Help At Your Door for my groceries - ordering, selecting, and delivering as I cannot shop anymore. " Barbara A. , age 86"I feel you are a very important service to me. I may not be able to stay in my home without Help At Your Door. Thank you very much. " Marlene G. , age 75"I am 97 years old and can't get out, so I appreciate having your services. " Frances L. , age 97"My health is improving since starting Help At Your Door. " K. D. , age 74

Target demographics: seniors continue to maintain their independence and live in their own homes

Direct beneficiaries per year: 1,708 seniors, 70 percent of who live at or below the poverty level

Geographic areas served: the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area

Programs: social connections and access to affordable, nutritious food through the Store To Door Grocery and Delivery Service, an extensive list of interior and exterior home help through the Handyman Service, and available in Summer 2017 a Transportation Service for home-bound seniors who need to run errands, go to doctor's appointments, or just get out of the house.