There’s a unique sound that comes from a community coming together – conversations shared over a meal, laughter in the hallways, volunteers serving side by side, and neighbors finding connection and belonging. This month, as services reopen and our building fills once again with the rhythms of daily life, we are reminded that community is one of God’s greatest gifts.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Throughout this season, we have witnessed the beauty of people supporting one another through celebration, service, connection, and generosity. The sound of community is more than activity – it is the sound of lives being strengthened together.
There’s so much to celebrate this season at To:gether Canby. After years of dreaming, planning, adapting, and waiting, Harvest Share, lunches, clothing, and laundry services have all officially reopened.
Welcoming our community back into the building for these expanded services has been an absolute joy. Day by day, the spaces have filled with conversation, connection, and neighbors caring for one another. The sound of doors opening, meals being shared, washers running, and neighbors gathering is something we have looked forward to for a very long time.
For many of us, the noise and hustle and bustles of a full building may seem like a small thing. But after years of limitations, it feels like a milestone worth celebrating. These services are about far more than meals, showers, or clean clothes – they create opportunities for dignity, belonging, and community. Seeing our building once again serve as a welcoming hub for our neighbors reminds us why this work matters and gives us great hope for what comes next.
One of the most meaningful ways to get involved is by serving alongside us. As our lunches, laundry, and clothing services continue to grow, so does our need for caring volunteers who can help create a welcoming and dignified experience for every neighbor who walks through our doors.
Whether you’re helping prepare and serve lunch, assisting with laundry, organizing clothing donations, or greeting guests at the front desk, every volunteer plays an important role in making our community stronger. To learn more about volunteer positions and sign up, visit togethercanby.org/volunteer.
Looking for a special summer opportunity to invest in local students? We also have volunteer opportunities available with CREATE Summer Camp. From supporting activities to helping create a fun and encouraging space for kids, volunteers are essential to making camp a memorable experience. To learn more about volunteering with CREATE and sign up, visit togethercanby.org/summer.
We had the privilege of honoring the volunteers who served in our youth programs throughout the school year. Through After School Tutoring, Quest Mentoring, Reading Mentors, and Backpack Buddies, these dedicated individuals made a lasting impact on local students and families.
At our volunteer appreciation breakfast, Stacy Ackerman, Counselor at Baker Prairie Middle School, shared a powerful reminder of that impact. Recalling a conversation with a student, she shared the quote: “The best thing you did for me [as my counselor] was to refer me to Quest.”
Moments like these remind us that consistent encouragement and meaningful relationships can make all the difference. We are deeply grateful for every volunteer who invested in the next generation this year.
The work of To:gether Canby is, in part, made possible because of the faithful support of people who believe in caring for our community. One of the most impactful ways to support this mission is by becoming a Friend of Canby through a recurring monthly gift.
Monthly giving provides reliable support for programs and services throughout the year, helping us meet needs, plan for the future, and continue serving our neighbors with consistency and care.
Today was a day we will never forget.
This afternoon, surrounded by an incredible community of supporters, volunteers, partners, families, and friends, we officially celebrated the ribbon cutting for a brand new season of ministry and impact – and unveiled our new name: To:gether Canby.
What a joy it was to gather together and celebrate all that God has done over the last nearly 20 years.
Looking around today, we were reminded of something that has always been true: this work has never been about one person or one organization. It has always been about God calling a community of people to show up for one another.
And today, you showed up.
You celebrated with us.
You prayed with us.
You encouraged us.
You reminded us why this work matters.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Thank you to every volunteer who has faithfully given their time. Thank you to every donor whose generosity has made this work possible. Thank you to our staff, board, churches, schools, local businesses, and community partners who continue to believe in the mission and walk alongside us. And thank you to the families and individuals we have the privilege of serving every day. You are at the heart of everything we do.
As we enter this next chapter as To:gether Canby, our mission remains unchanged:
In God’s love, we renew dignity and inspire learning for youth and families.
While the name is new, the heart behind the work is exactly the same.
The name To:gether Canby reflects something we have always believed deeply – that no one should have to do life alone. It represents a community where people are seen, known, supported, and given opportunities to thrive. It reflects the countless ways people across Canby continue to come together to care for one another with generosity, compassion, and hope.
Today’s celebration felt like a beautiful picture of that reality.
This new chapter also fills us with tremendous anticipation for the future. With expanded facilities, growing services, and a stronger foundation than ever before, we are excited for all that lies ahead. We believe God is continuing to move in powerful ways in this community, and we are grateful to be part of the story He is writing.
As we step into this next era, we do so with gratitude for the past and excitement for the future.
Thank you for celebrating with us today.
Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for being part of this community.
Welcome to To:gether Canby.
The best is yet to come.
Christmas reminds us that God’s love is not distant—it arrives close, humble, and full of hope. As we look back on a year of opening doors together, we are grateful for each person who stepped forward with generosity and care.
We welcomed 171 guests to year’s Community Christmas!
Thank you to our event host, Canby Christian Church, and 36 supporters (volunteers, churches, businesses).
Join us in celebrating this season with a special message from Executive Director Ray Keen.
We believe God’s love is made manifest when we love our neighbors. Since our doors opened in 2008, God’s love motivates our service. Together, we extend hope to families with the food, clothing, education tools, and belonging that strengths personal responsibility for positive life change.
As 2025 draws to a close, generous supporters are making a difference for families and youth.
A monthly gift of $25, $50, or $100 helps ensure that we can share essential foods, keeping our no-cost Market stocked with the ingredients families depend on.
Consider making a special gift this Christmas that brings help and hope to our community throughout the year! We’re in this together.
This Christmas, our lobby is graced with a handcrafted tree whose color and cheer remind us that when we join together, wonderful things can happen.
We’re in this together; as we step into 2026, youth and families will be blessed thanks to a community who cares. Thank you for opening doors with us!
Blue skies greeted the community during a blessed break in the rain this weekend! Together, 119 walkers, joggers, and runners crossed the finish line of the 2025 Christmas in Canby Ugly Sweater 5K. Proceeds from every step went to support The Canby Center. A lively street market, free kids’ activities, and holiday cheer reminded everyone that we’re in this together.
This beloved event is a gift to Canby, brought to life by Vanessa Zimmerman and a circle of friends dedicated to making Christmas in Canby a free, community celebration that strengthens connections while supporting neighbors experiencing need.
“Christmas in Canby wouldn’t exist without help from my friends,” Vanessa shared.
Motivated by faith and a love for bringing people together, Vanessa says, “It fills my soul to do outreach for the community. I especially love Christmas—what it means to me because of my faith and how it brings friends and family together.”
Thanks to their teamwork, the 5K proceeds are helping open doors for clothing, food, education supports, and relational services for youth and families at The Canby Center.
See the full race results here: (link).
The race may be over, but our opportunity to journey with youth and families continues!
Discover all you have to offer as a volunteer on our team.
At The Canby Center, we are committed to offering nutritious staples like rice and beans to every member who walks through the doors of our no-cost Market.
Make an investment today—a gift in honor of someone who helped you cross a finish line.
Your gift will do more than fill a pantry—we’re opening doors to dignity, stability, and possibility.
Thank you, Canby! This Christmas, we know our 350+ member families have good news and great joy because the love of God is being expressed in both words and actions—right here, through neighbors like you.
When you become a monthly supporter, you join a circle of people committed to strengthening the wellbeing of youth and families right here in Canby. You help provide a hand up in moments when it matters most. And you become part of the larger story we tell every time a family walks into the Market: we’re in this together.
Become a monthly donor today!
Words and photos by Macaela Bennett. Hired in 2020, Macaela is delighted to serve as the Executive Assistant at The Canby Center. She grew up in Canby and holds a BS in Urban and Public Affairs.
At The Canby Center we believe nutritious food is more than a meal—it’s the foundation for growth, learning, stability, and hope. When a family has steady access to wholesome food, everything becomes possible: better health, stronger immune systems, more energy for work and school, and the dignity that comes from caring for the people you love.
Our mission is simple: in God’s love, we renew dignity and inspire learning for youth and families. Our Thriving Together program reflects this by offering a hand up, not a handout, and creating a path forward where every family has something to both give and receive.
A new member recently walked through our no-cost food Market for the first time. With each aisle, their awe grew—“It feels like walking on cloud nine,” they said, overcome by the abundance and invitation to bring home food that truly nourishes.
The dignity of choice means each member family “shops” to supply their needs and gives back an hour of volunteer time each month. Grocery items they can count on include:
“Beans and rice kept me fed when my finances were at an all-time low,” a donor recalls. “It’s amazing that The Canby Center is helping people just like me.” For the 353 member families in our program, essentials like bread, eggs, milk, and rice are not just ingredients—they are a lifeline.
As of December 1st, 2026, 353 families partner with us each week for food assistance and encouragement. Behind every reusable bag and shopping cart is a story of resilience and love for family. And every single week, the cost of purchasing staples like rice and beans lands directly on our budget.
This Giving Tuesday, we are inviting our community to come together—to surround our neighbors with needed support to take their next step forward.
A monthly gift of $25, $50, or $100 helps ensure that we can consistently purchase these essential items at cost, keeping our Market stocked with the ingredients families depend on.
Your gift won’t just fill a pantry—it will open doors to dignity, stability, and possibility.
When you become a monthly supporter, you join a circle of people committed to strengthening the wellbeing of youth and families right here in Canby. You help provide a hand up in moments when it matters most. And you become part of the larger story we tell every time a family walks into the Market: we’re in this together.
Become a monthly donor to increase your current gift to meet rising needs from a well of abundance!
This Thanksgiving, we are freshly aware of the extraordinary support we’ve received from our local faith community. For many months during construction, churches across Canby opened their doors to us—creating space for tutoring, meetings, classes, and daily operations until we could return onsite.
Now, as we fill our expanded facility with its intended purpose—classrooms bustling with 11 pairs of tutors and students, a warehouse stocked with nutritious food, and welcoming spaces where dignity is renewed—we’re reminded that we did not get here alone.
The faith community has been our bedrock from the very beginning.
When The Canby Center first opened its doors in 2008, it was made possible through the leadership of five founding churches.
Learn more about our origins at www.thecanbycenter.org/history.
Our Origin StoryToday, local churches give regular financial support—and more. They uplift our work in prayer, send volunteers our way, and meet practical needs with a resounding “Yes!” Our church partners are a dynamic expression of God’s love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you… By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34–35
“When construction timelines meant moving office work offsite, Canby Christian Church welcomed us.”
To the local community of believers—our church partners—we offer our heartfelt thanks for your love. Our gratitude is due to these congregations for their uniquely tangible support in this recent season of change:
As we reflect on 2025, we’re grateful. It is because of these and other faithful supporters that our doors first opened 16 years ago and remain open today. Thank you for partnering with us in God’s love, together.
To open doors, we’ve needed all hands on deck! From his very first day on the forklift, Broc Miller has helped us continually improve the experience for members shopping in our no-cost food Market.
Broc joined the TCC team this fall as Logistics Specialist. He thrives in hands-on environments where teamwork keeps things moving. Broc is operating machinery to move fresh food in and out of our 6,000 square foot warehouse. A lot of food. To be precise,
“Broc jumped in with energy and focus from day one,” shares Jessica Varwig, TCC’s Facilities and Operations Coordinator. “His positive outlook makes a big difference. We’re so grateful to have him on board!”
The 339 members of our Thriving Together program have access to dry goods, refrigerated, and freezer items. Whether operating the forklift onsite or driving the refrigerated van for local pick-ups, Broc is supporting the logistics essential to serving our program members.
Broc and his wife live in Molalla, and he enjoys tackling home projects, learning new skills, and staying active outdoors.
This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful to Cutsforth’s Market and donors who made this year’s Turkey Drive possible. We surpassed our goal! Thanks to generous neighbors, 240 turkeys were funded and have been distributed to local families in our membership program. Thank you!
Lyn has shopped in Canby for 23 years. When asked what motivated her $30 donation at checkout to give a turkey, she shared her motivation: hospitality.
“I was thinking that there are people who may not have what they need but would want to host a meal.
The cost, the choice between hosting or not when you’re trying to bring people together, it’s not always easy. I know.”
Because of neighbors like Lyn and partners like Cutsforth’s, our program members can fill chairs around their tables and serve up generous helpings this Thanksgiving. Families are receiving a hand up, not just a hand out.
While The Canby Center provides special resources to families at the holidays, we’re supporting families year-round. Through our member program, families engage in learning, volunteering, and personal responsibility. We witness community members choosing dignity and giving back as they step toward a brighter future.
“When I’m cooking and gathering family or neighbors around a meal,” Lyn explains, “I feel grateful to do that. And I feel hopeful. I think people who get the turkey that I donated will get to experience that hope too.”
At The Canby Center, we believe in offering a hand up, not just a handout. By endeavoring to strengthen relationships in all we do, we offer our youngest community members a chance to experience the joy of giving that builds connection.
Support holiday programming with a special donation, or contribute stocking stuffers directly to our collection barrel by December 10th.
The Canby Center’s annual Community Christmas Event is a festive celebration where we enjoy the gift of giving. Donated stocking stuffers mean children have the dignity of choice to to thoughtfully select small gifts that will bless others.
Paired with a shopping assistant, kids might choose a pair of work gloves for dad, a nifty tool for grandpa, cozy socks for a sibling, or quality hand lotion for mom. Community members donate stocking stuffers so each child can find something they feel is “just right” for their special person.
Together, we can make this holiday season joyful and meaningful for youth and families in our community!
Ray Keen here, Executive Director of The Canby Center. In the Keen household, there are many signs that Thanksgiving is coming and Christmas is close behind. The fridge fills, the house is tidied, thousand-piece puzzles come out, Chex Mix is made, and cards start to line the living room shelf.
Together, my wife Rachel and I set the leaf in place. That leaf is more than an extension of surface area; it signals that we’ll soon be joined by guests. Again and again, I find myself excited about the meals and conversations we’ll share around this enlarged table.
The table speaks to me of togetherness. It is a picture of the people God has placed in our lives. When Jesus walked the earth, He, too, was making room—for the stranger, the broken, and even for those caught in sin.
Even on the night of His betrayal, Jesus shared bread with an enemy. The togetherness at Jesus’ table was not defined by rank or creed. Seats were taken by seven blue-collar workers, a tax collector, a state revolutionary, farmers, and tradesmen. The zealot who longed for revolution found a greater revolution of love. The tax collector who took from his neighbors found a thousand reasons to give. At the extended table of Jesus, space was made for the least, the lonely, and the lost.
May God bless the table you extend.
May He fill each seat with a life entrusted to your care,
and may your home become a place where burdens are lifted
and joy is shared beyond measure.
As you add an extra leaf,
may you receive grace to welcome,
strength to listen deeply,
and courage to make space for those who arrive weary.
May Christ—who once gathered fishermen and zealots—
gather us as well,
and lead us to love as He loved.
In this season of gratitude,
may your table be long,
your welcome wide,
and your heart open to the presence of Jesus.
Amen.
At The Canby Center, I see dignity lived out in quiet, powerful ways. This week, we’re honoring veterans and I’m mindful of several members whose patience and resilience strengthen our community.
Frank, a veteran with a ready smile and steady humility, arrived today for his weekly “shop” time in our reopening facility. With a cohort of 10 member families, Frank is one of the first to enjoy The Canby Center’s Market, navigating the space in his motorized chair. He’s a handy guy and has rigged up a rolling cart that dutifully tugs behind his every move. His fellow members are looking out for him, and I, his assistant shopper, am ready to explore the Market’s dry food, refrigerated, and freezer offerings together.
I’m thinking about his willingness to serve as he maneuvers ahead of me, an American flag waving gently with the motion of his four wheels (eight, if you count his cart!).
On this Veteran’s Day, would you make a donation today? Thank you! We’re opening doors: together.
His face brightens with a smile at the sight of familiar favorites: bacon, eggs, onions, apples, and the half-and-half he likes. Someone has donated cans of cat food; he spots them and says, “Oh, yes please.” We know his feline companion will be happy, too. One of the two roll-up doors lifts to ensure a clear path for Frank and his groceries. We say our goodbyes, and I watch him motor away.
Then I smile. And tears come to my eyes. I’m smiling because I’m looking forward to next week, when we’ll see him here again. I’m tearful because I’m moved by his contribution to our community — that he chooses to give and receive with The Canby Center.
There’s another veteran, a mom I’ll call Sandra. She was forever impacted by her military service and for years was unable to work. She’s part of The Canby Center’s community, where we believe everyone has something to receive as well as and something to give.
“She’s enrolled in college courses now,” Christina shares with me. I hear her excitement mingled with sisterly pride. Christina is our Assistant Director of Programs. She is instrumental in forging relationships that connect members to one another. And the culture of care and self-respect that permeates our Thriving Together Program — it shows! Seeing members, like Sandra, taking steps toward their goals and a stronger future is deeply satisfying.
The Canby Center is a place where doors open to all — and particular care is given to those who have given much. To all of our community members who served, thank you for your service.
Our work of renewing dignity and inspiring learning is made possible by our generous community — people like you who ensure that the services we offer to Frank, Sandra, and nearly 400 other program members can continue.
In honor of Veterans Day, would you make a donation today? Thank you! We’re opening doors: together.
Words and photos by Macaela Bennett. Hired in 2020, Macaela is delighted to serve as the Executive Assistant at The Canby Center. She grew up in Canby and holds a BS in Urban and Public Affairs.
In this season of harvest and gratitude, we’re reminded that abundance is meant to be shared. From the earliest days, God’s people practiced gleaning—a way of ensuring that no one went hungry. Landowners were instructed to harvest most of their crops but leave the edges and leftovers for those in need.
Sharing our abundance reflects God’s own heart. When we give, we participate in His ongoing work of compassion and care.
At The Canby Center, our Thriving Together program lives out this ancient truth every day. We glean surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers—food that’s perfectly good but nearing its expiration date—and share it with local families who need it most.
Every family in Thriving Together contributes at least one hour of volunteer service each month and takes a finance class during their first six months.
Just like gleaners in the field, they invest effort, grow in dignity, and help one another flourish.
It’s a modern-day co-op where relationships are the currency, and where generosity multiplies hope.
That’s Thriving Together.
You know the feeling when you return home from a long time away and your refrigerator is empty and the pantry is looking bare? As we reopen programs in our newly expanded facility, we need the community’s help to fill our shelves!
If you have a little extra, would you consider sharing it? As you shop this week, please pick up a case of canned goods, a big bag of rice, or any number of shelf-stable items we can add to the produce we source from local farms and suppliers. Drop off your harvest, ready to share, at The Canby Center this week.
When dropping off food donations, please use the marked entrance on SW 2nd Ave.
If you prefer, you can make a financial gift to help replenish what’s needed most. Every gift—large or small—helps fill our shelves, restore dignity, and strengthen families.
Together, we can make sure no one in our community goes without.
Gratefully,
As we fill shelves and strengthen relationships this season, our Thanksgiving Turkey Drive is underway with Cutsforth’s Market! Together, we can make sure every family in our community enjoys a warm, plentiful meal.
Last year, a deeply-touched parent took time to share with us the impact that a turkey can make. “Thank you,” they said with a smile and a lump in their throat. “It’s great to have a turkey this year. Last year we could only afford a small rotisserie chicken. My son is going to be really happy.”
For $30, you can donate a turkey to through Cutsforth’s Market in Canby. The Canby Center will do our part to ensure that every turkey shared with a local family brings hope, nourishment, and dignity.
Here’s how you can help:
Your generosity helps fill tables and bless families this Thanksgiving. Together, we can make sure everyone has enough—and something to be thankful for.
Our walkway to the new front doors at The Canby Center is already teaming with community stories! A few guests on a special tour got a sneak peek at the custom brick installation. They were delighted to see the tangible results of our generous community. In the words of one viewer:
A brick is a simple thing—but together, we’re paving the way for families to thrive.
One donor household purchased two bricks—one for the wife, one for the husband. Other visitors have shared how meaningful it is to recognize names of friends, neighbors, and fellow supporters as they read along the walkway.
“Each brick highlights the community-centered intention of this space,” says Mark Smith, Director of Expansion for The Canby Center. “It’s a building we designed to meet growing needs in Canby—not just for help, but for relationship to one another.”
In this way, each inscribed brick is an expression of the solid place The Canby Center offers people to steady their lives, finding hope.
You can purchase a brick on our website, choose from three sizes, and confirm your custom message today.
Every brick supports our Thriving Legacy Fund, which ensures good stewardship of our purpose-built facility. Learn more about what your gift can accomplish today and in the years ahead: www.thecanbycenter.org/brick
And don’t delay; the next engraving order will be placed soon!
As we approach the end of the year, you’re invited deeper into the story of what God is doing at The Canby Center.
Together, we’re opening doors for families to access the resources they are worthy to receive: nourishing food, clothing, mentoring, life-strengthening classes, and meaningful opportunities to serve others.
We could all use a reminder of what we can do—what doors we can open—together. So this month, 760,500+ drivers through Canby on 99E get to see firsthand the joy that comes from opening doors: together.
“When families receive the support they need, it transforms more than their day—it transforms their future,” says Whitney Govert, Director of Development for The Canby Center.
And as a mom of three, I love to see how a whole community can flourish together.”
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more messages of hope and belonging, plus practical ways our community can experience the joy of togetherness before the year’s end.
The needs of many are rising as federal dollars that support other resource avenues are in short supply.
Whitney reminds us, “Every gift brings dignity and new possibilities into the lives of families who come to The Canby Center.” This season, you’re invited join us in opening doors for Canby families:
Every day brings us closer to the reopening of our expanded facility at 681 SW 2nd Ave., here in Canby. Celebrate the progress in this time-lapse video!
Services at 681 SW 2nd Ave. will gradually restart as the new facility’s systems are brought together. We are accepting food donations on a walk-up bases. Please use the marked entrance on 2nd along the fence-line shared with Allegro Dance Studio; follow the signs and be aware of your surroundings. For everyone’s safety, do not enter the marked construction area that faces the street.
We are delighted to share that The Canby Center has received a $10,000 grant from the Austin Family Foundation to support our programs—directly advancing children’s education and food security in our community.
This award beautifully reflects the Foundation’s mission: “We believe that strong communities depend on people having productive and meaningful lives. When people are given the tools they need to thrive, they develop a strong sense of self-worth, are motivated to succeed, and are empowered to improve their own lives and the lives of others.”
By funding literacy support and nutritious weekend meals for local children, the Austin Family Foundation is helping build the very opportunities it envisions.
Together, these programs touch 365 children and their families, giving them both the tools and the encouragement to thrive. We are grateful to the Austin Family Foundation for investing in Canby’s future and helping remove barriers to education and nourishment for the students we are blessed to serve.
If you would like to join in supporting children’s food and education, we invite you to
become a monthly supporter of The Canby Center’s work—strengthening youth and families in our community.
Learn more about the Austin Family Foundation’s work at austinfamilyfoundation.com.
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The Canby Center is hiring! We’re inviting a creative leader to join them team and usher in a unified communications strategy for The Canby Center’s future.
The Director of Communications will shape and share the story of our impact with a growing community of families, volunteers, and supporters.
…
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