“The Art of Being There: An Inside Look at the Hopscotch Foundation”- Sport Oregon Voices
Sport Oregon Voices:
The Hopscotch Foundation has been supplying Portland youth with needed nutritious food since 2015. Founder Dave Gunderson talks with us about how food is a cornerstone for healthy communities, and how community volunteers are at the frontline building creative solutions to keep our communities fed in times of crisis.
As Dave Gunderson puts it, never in a million years did he think he’d have to pivot as quickly and dramatically as he did this past March.
Gunderson, founder and CEO of the Hopscotch Foundation, has dedicated the past five years growing his organization, whose mission it is to increase awareness, generate resources and fund programs to assist kids and families in need with their fundamental food needs. He’s a familiar face out there in the schools and community, right in the middle of things, distributing nutritious food, and just generally supporting students and helping in any way possible.
But in the span of a couple days, Gunderson – known affectionately as “Uncle Dave” by those he helps – had to change the entire way he went about his assistance, when schools and prep sports abruptly shut down due to the pandemic.
“When they closed the schools down, there was no gradual thing,” Gunderson said. “They did it on a Friday, and we had to totally change our business plan over a weekend. We couldn’t get into the schools, we couldn’t get to our pantries.”
Gunderson’s business model always had included stocking these food pantries and distributing countless thousands (and even millions) of pounds of foods to about 16 Portland schools. But in the span of those few days in March, his organization immediately had to figure out how to keep making an impact without the familiar reliability of regular school activities to get food into the right hands, and importantly, to maintain those connections with the many kids who have come to know and trust him.
These days, with distance learning the norm and schools physically closed with little-to-no sports activities, Gunderson has set up a series of food-distribution sites outside several area schools. Hopscotch relied on its strong relationship with the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) to stay connected and develop plans to get the food to those who needed it, and Gunderson has been blown away by their support, and that of the many teachers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to chip in to help.
But as the model has changed, the work – and need – has substantially increased in 2020. Gunderson confidently estimates that his organization’s food distribution has increased five-fold from where it was a year ago. Federal funding through the CARES Act provided a substantial boost, as Hopscotch became a major regional distributor of product in the Portland area. But Gunderson quickly identifies an ever-increasing need to bolster their efforts even more, and has been further ramping up the organization’s efforts – including a virtual fundraiser in partnership with Sport Oregon on Dec. 3 – to accent the federal funds and the traditional resources they relied upon before the pandemic.
“It used to be kids, and then kids and family, but right now we’re feeding communities – anybody that’s in that line, we’re feeding them,” Gunderson said. “It would be wonderful if we could go back to that old model, but right now you need to be there for everybody, and you need to be there with a smile on your face.”
Gunderson began his foundation’s work in 2015, starting simply enough when he connected with friend and then head football coach at Jefferson High School, Anthony Jordan, to inquire who made the team pregame meals, or “spaghetti dinners,” as they’re known. When the answer was the team didn’t have such a tradition, Gunderson and the Hopscotch Foundation were off and running.
Recently retired from after a successful business career, Gunderson immediately saw a need and an opportunity to make a difference from that first spaghetti dinner he prepared for the team. He could see the kids were hungry and appreciative of good food. And as a type 1 diabetic for the majority of his life, he also saw a pathway to contribute to helping those with type 2 diabetes, through better nutrition and physical activity.
“I was planning on semi-retiring, but I saw a possibility in that window of time – that first couple of weeks – that just kind of flowed into my life with diabetes,” Gunderson said. “We have the prescription for the vast majority of diabetics worldwide, we know what to do. Type 2 is something we can do something about, a lot about. It’s right before us.”
It’s about more than just proper nutrition for Gunderson, though: He sees the whole picture, and worries about how the kids are coping with the many changes in their lives. He misses those connections you just can’t replicate without schools being open and regular sporting activities taking place.
“During the school year, you get into a rhythm and you know the kids,” Gunderson said, “and it’s really easy, and you know the food is getting in the right hands. But it’s difficult to keep those relationships that you have going [due to the pandemic]. I try to maintain as much contact as I can with them, but they’re going through a lot.”
The concern is because Gunderson has become more than just a food supplier. As “Uncle Dave,” he’s become a trusted friend and sounding board of sorts to many students, especially kids who come from difficult backgrounds and those who rely on the stable structure that the school environment provides, in addition to their proper nutritional needs.
“You feed the kids first through their stomachs, and then their heart opens up and you build communities – it just takes off from there,” he said.
In other words, Gunderson’s role has developed over the years into a human resources coach of sorts.
“I just try to be a voice for them, though I don’t really say anything. It’s just the art of being there for these kids. Once you gain a certain amount of trust, they’ll ask you some amazing questions. Once they know you don’t want anything from them – you’re just there to be a friend and help – they’ll confide in you.”
And Gunderson, who has three grown kids with athletic backgrounds, sees regular sporting activities as a critical element for the kids and their continued growth.
“Having sports and being part of something is really undervalued until you’re in a time like this, to know the benefits it really brings,” he said. “You learn how to manage your time, relate to people and different personalities, learn to be a teammate. All of those things are valuable and available to learn in school through sports, that also apply as they start their careers, enter into relationships, all those kinds of things. A big place for that is high school.”
For his work, Gunderson was the recipient, this past year, of the Oregon Sports Awards’ DNA Award, a distinction that recognizes individuals or organizations for their extraordinary passion and dedication to sports in the state. For years now, he’s worked with the many high school athletic directors to use sports as a launch point to get food to all the kids at each school, while also assuring the athletes have the proper nutrition to excel.
Without these familiar touch points, there’s no doubt it’s been a difficult journey these past 7-8 months – filled with many twists, turns and pivots. But Gunderson’s group has adapted quickly and learned how to conduct their meaningful work effectively. Sure, he would love to go back to his old model. But for now, he’s keeping his head down and making it as effective, social and fun as responsibly fit, while tackling even greater challenges that he never imagined.
“You always keep a smile on your face, but it’s work. We’re still out there – we’re not going anywhere – and we will continue to do so. We’re in the communities who really need it.”
This winter, Sport Oregon is proud to partner with Hopscotch on Fuel the Future- a joint virtual fundraising event for the Hopscotch Foundation and Sport Oregon Foundation. Fuel the Future features an online silent auction, raffle, and live virtual program streaming on December 3rd at 6pm. To learn more and support fundraising efforts, visit event.gives/fuelthefuture.