Letter from Monday Lead Michelle Finley:
Hello Everyone!
Here are the shopping sign ups and a message about mondays being cut.
Hello Folks,
We understand that cutting Monday's shopping is going to be an adjustment. Monday, January 5th will be out last Monday distribution. Both Linda and I will be in the building throughout Monday for anyone who has questions. Next week will be a bit different. With cutting Monday, we do understand that Saturday will not work for everyone, to help ease that we will be opening up a distribution for a limited time on Fridays after we get store pickups and we will work around warehouse pickups if we have them. Our first Friday distribution will start Friday, January 16th, 2026. With these changes, signup genius will look a little different and may be different for a while until we can find the right flow of things. Both Linda and I want you all to know that the decision of cutting Mondays was not at all an easy one, however we feel that it was unfortunately a necessary one. We are hoping that with these changes that we can cut down the amount of food waste we have consistently seen and the required amount of volunteer hours. We know that there are concerns about Gathering Together Farm. Right now, we don't have many answers to that concern, however we will be working on getting an answer as to whether or not we will still have Gathering Together Farms and if we will be able to pick up on another day. Linda and I have just barely survived the holidays and with this transition we are trying to make it as smooth as possible for everyone. We ask for your patience through this and to know that we want to help all of our families as much as we can through this. If you have questions or concerns, please come to Linda or myself. Please do not speculate or gossip, both Linda and I are trying to make ourselves as available as possible to answer any questions and concerns.
As we have come into the New Year here are a few reminders...
We ask that you do not contact us (Coordinators and Day Leads) between 8pm and 8am. We do understand there are emergencies. However, I am still receiving texts at all hours of the night and early morning. Please be courteous and respect this. If it is for a call out for a volunteer shift with 4 hours' notice that is an exception but please make it one simple text message.
For Volunteering: If you sign up for a volunteer shift and if you cannot edit your sign up before 6pm the night before you MUST contact the day lead with at least 4 hours notice if you cannot make it to your shift. We have had many No Call/No Shows for volunteers shifts and it will result in a required clean up shift. If you are in your 90 day probationary period it could lead to suspension from the program.
For Shopping: After 6pm the night before shopping is the cut off. If you sign up after 6pm you are not guaranteed a shopping slot, and you must contact the day lead to sign up. If you cannot make it to your shopping time you must contact the day lead preferably 2 hours before your time. If you DO NOT contact a day lead this will result in a No Call/No Show, and will result in a text from me stating that the next time you shop you will need to sign up for a cleanup shift and will be a last shopper and the day you can shop. 3 No Call/No Shows will result in a warning and any fallowing could result in suspension.
To contact a day lead, you can call or text. If you call and there is no answer, leave a voicemail.
Although it is posted several places here is a list of contact information for day leads...
Monday Day Leads:
Michelle Finley 503-434-7602
Jen Love 971-241-5252
Friday Day Lead:
Chelsea Shay 541-908-2474
Saturday Day Leads:
Jennie Mikkelsen 541-974-1579
Linda O'Dell 541-286-0502
Volunteer Coordinator
Anna Goodlove 541-600-7451
Volunteercoordinator@philomathcommunityservices.org
Program Coordinators
Jennie Mikkelsen 541-974-1579
Gleaners.cocoordinator@philomathcommunityservices.org
Linda O'Dell 541-286-0502
Saturday list -
- Saturday - Please text Jennie M if you need a spot after 6pm Friday
- Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 6pm Sunday
Failure to follow these directions may result in your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals.
There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them.
Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up). Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday.
Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.