If you are one of the 450 people who follow "Doctor Jeff" on Twitter, you probably already know two things about him.

His daily

commute is epic – East Portland's Gateway Transit Center to Forest Grove. And his waggish observations from the rattle and hum of public transit are worthy of a Saturday night standup gig at

.

You should also know this: Jeff Guardalabene, a 53-year-old clinical psychologist who works at

's counseling center, has a heart as big as a MAX train.

It's the time of year when people of grace and goodwill gather gifts for the suffering and struggling. As if we needed reminding, the hurting is huge these days. But amid the donated turkeys, and toys, Guardalabene says one necessity is too often ignored: transportation.

So, he started up Holiday Fare, a project to collect books of TriMet tickets to donate to people who need them. Commuting 1,400 miles a month on public transit, Guardalabene said he has realized how lucky he is to have a job, a university-subsidized transit pass and a car. "A lot of the people I share a ride with have none of those things," he said. For too many, he said, a bus ticket has become the difference between getting to a job interview, the doctor and school "or just being stuck."

Women fleeing domestic violence, for example, hardly ever show up at Portland's Yolanda House with a car or money for a TriMet pass. "Transportation is one of our biggest needs for helping women rebuild their lives," said Ashley Conley, a services advocate for the shelter.

Guardalabene has certainly had time to think up this drive. TriMet says the average bus trip is 16 minutes. On MAX, it's 17 minutes. This guy spends nearly four hours a day on TriMet.

Waiting for a train in the predawn fog at Gateway on Tuesday, Guardalabene explained that he used to drive to work. "I realized how much more relaxed I was on transit," the doctor with salt-and-pepper goatee said. "When the weather's terrible, I like looking up from a book and out the window to see a horrible traffic jam that I would have been stuck in."

Sure, it's 32 light-rail stops to Hillsboro and a 20-minute Line 57 bus ride to Pacific University. But he saves $4,000 a year on gas and other auto expenses -- a big deal for a guy with five kids.

The Decemberists help pass the time. Scanning riders' faces, he often plays "celebrity doppelganger." And he's

: "This guy is grasping his bike handlebars and leaning into it like he's steering the MAX. Guess you never really know."

"That awkward moment when you realize that if you say more than 'hello' to this train guy, you've just signed up for a daily in-depth chat." "One angry lady on her way to culinary school. Could the commercials have been wrong?"

When the Holiday Fare donations started arriving in the mail from his Twitter followers, Guardalabene tweeted excitedly, "After the first 10 books of tickets go to Yolanda House, the second ten will go to Outside In!" After that? "If I get a thousand books of tickets," he promised me, "I'm sure I'll have no problem finding places for them."

To contribute to Holiday Fare, buy a $24 book of 10 all-zone adult tickets and send it to 1130 N.E. 108th Ave., Portland, OR, 97220. Contact Guardalabene at drjeff@gmail.com