Veteran is longest serving volunteer for Helping Hands Mission

Helping Hands Mission Volunteers, from left, Dave Stahl, Fay McKenna, Dan Bergman and Bergman’s daughter, Lori Bergman. Stahl and McKenna greeted Dan Bergman with a cake to say thank you for all he does. Bergman has been volunteering at the mission for 29 years, making him the longest serving volunteer. He has been there since the mission opened on July 7, 1992. The 71-year-old Air Force veteran said enjoys his volunteer work and driving the Hi-Lo. (Photo by Tereasa Nims/For the Daily News)

Dan Bergman has been sharing his time with those in need for 29 years

TEREASA NIMS For the Daily News

Helping Hands Mission in Beaverton started 29 years ago, and Air Force veteran Dan Bergman began volunteering at the onset. And at 71 years of age, he continues to make a difference.

It’s sometimes difficult to get a strait answer from Bergman. When asked why he has kept volunteering for nearly 30 years, he said with a straight face, “To get out of my honey do list at home.”

He does admit it is a sense of duty, helping those less fortunate. He said it makes him feel better when he can help another person.

“I’ve been there before,” he said about being down on his luck.

Although there is no pay, Bergman treats volunteering with the seriousness of a job. He builds shelves, tests the donated electronics to ensure they are working, installs audio and communications systems at the mission, drives the Hi-Lo machine, and often does anything without being asked.

“We love him to death,” said fellow volunteer Fay McKenna, noting Bergman is the go-to person.

Volunteer Dave Stahl said he really enjoys working with Bergman as they banter each day. His daughter, Lori, also volunteers at the mission.

“I’m so proud of him,” she said. “He supports the ladies and when anyone asks him to do something, he gets it done.”

McKenna who started at the mission two years ago, said they are all kind of a team and look out for each other.

Bergman grew up in Beaverton and went into the Air Force after graduating high school. He was stationed in Vietnam where he worked on fighter jets. After the war ended, he went to college in Columbus, Ohio to study electronics.

He said he would have stayed longer in the Air Force, but after his four years was the end of the Vietnam war, and he and his friends were shipped home.

McKenna said the mission doesn’t put out junk for sale and a large part of being able to tell what quality is because of Bergman.

“He is our quality control,” McKenna said.

Bergman learned of the mission’s opening through the Church of the Brethren. He learned they needed volunteers and he enlisted.