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65 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, May 2, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 2, 2005 Richard Stroup delivers another of his regular collection of food boxes from WinCo to Safe Place. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Hometown Hero Delivering hope and care By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune Richard Stroup does his job quietly, every day, without pay, picking up scratched and dented boxes and cans of food from WinCo and delivering them for distribution to needy mothers. Stroup, 56, drives his packed sedan daily up to the back door of Jackson County Health Department, where he is welcomed by the small staff of women who run the Safe Place, a haven for women who may be broke, battered, in recovery, mentally ill, getting out of jail or in extremes in other ways that threaten their ability to get their lives going again. A former mill worker, metal shop mechanic, restaurant cook and Navy flight mechanic in the Vietnam War, Stroup says he has a severe neck injury and is no longer able to hold down a full-time job. Instead, he takes care of his four grandchildren so his two adult children and their spouses can work. And about two hours a day, he puts together food boxes. Advertisement Stroup goes to WinCo where, for years, the discount food outlet has handed over lots of food and household necessities — macaroni, chicken and dumplings, pop tarts, pudding, sugar, hamburger helper — all things with a long shelf life that can be used to make meals over a week. Stroup arranges them in portions with some of everything, drops them at Safe Place and, for women without transportation, he drives goods to their homes. If they are sick and need a ride to the doctors, he does that, too. "We’re the last house on the block," says Robin Turgesen, maternal child health nurse for the county — referring to the safety net function of Safe Place. It’s like a free Goodwill, accepting donations (call 774-8026) of clothes, kitchenware, food and other life necessities and handing them out — no questions asked — to women who say they need them. "If a woman comes in asking for a box of food, she gets a box of food, not an application to fill out," says Turgesen. "People don’t ask for food unless they need it." Safe Place used to have the staff and money to handle food boxes for destitute women, but harsh social services cutbacks have forced them to turn to people in the community — something that will be going on more and more, she adds. "In the middle of all this comes little Richard and, quietly, he starts taking box after box out of his car, like the clowns getting out of the VW. He’s had a huge impact for women in crisis in our valley," says Turgesen. Asked what motivates him to perform such a constant public service, a modest Stroup replies, "These women need help. People do things for me and I do them back. Like being a grandpa — that’s one of the greatest joys of my life. It keeps you in tune with life. It feels pretty good. I’m doing what I can." Gathered out back, the staff of several women’s social help programs — the midwife center (a prenatal clinic), WIC, county family planning and Safe Place — all praised Turgesen, shaking their heads at his modesty. "It’s amazing what he does, day in and day out," says senior family advocate Tonya Flockoi. "He never complains, just comes in with a smile and gets it done. If someone’s down, he’s there to help. He’s a man with great compassion." Added Turgesen, "He should run a men’s group and teach men how to listen. He’s one of those men who knows how to listen to women." Former Safe Place client Teresa Day, now a staff member, says women are extremely happy to get the food boxes. "I loved it when I needed them," Day said. "He would bring them to my house, because I didn’t have transportation or money and I was expecting a baby. It made a big difference. He brought a lot of baby things too — formula and baby food." Stroup was caretaker for both her grandfathers as they died, says Tina Lines, county senior family advocate and Stroup’s step-daughter. "He became a CNA (certified nurse’s aide) and he’s always been very good with the elderly," Lines adds. "He’s probably one of the sweetest guys you’ll ever find. My husband and I couldn’t do what we do (with their three children), keeping them on the honor roll and in sports, except for dad." Clients of Safe Place are grateful for Stroup’s boxes, about 15 or 20 a day, as they are one of the few food pantries in the county and the only one centrally located that also will deliver — all this with no income test, says Lines. "These women are definitely impoverished and getting ready to get back in the work force. We do a quick needs assessment and get them connected with what they need — and a box of food is first on the list," Lines notes. Unloading two dozen hefty boxes, Stroup brushes off the women’s compliments, saying, "People should volunteer for those who need help. It has the same impact as a job. You just don’t make a lot of money." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Advertisement s