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From the very beginning, God designed us for connection. Scripture reminds us that we are “members of one another” (Romans 12:5) and that in Christ, no one is meant to walk alone. Belonging is more than simply having a place to show up – it’s knowing you are welcomed, valued, seen, and invited to be part of something bigger than yourself. That’s the kind of community we want To:gether Canby to be: a place where people can come as they are, find connection, and know they have a place here.
Jesus showed us what this kind of belonging looks like. Throughout His life, He made room for people others overlooked. Jesus regularly welcomed children, shared meals with outsiders, listened to the hurting, and drew near to those who felt pushed to the margins. He didn’t simply tell people they mattered; He welcomed them to Himself and treated them with dignity and compassion. As we care for our neighbors, we hope to follow His example by creating a community where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely at home. Because sometimes, one of the most meaningful things we can offer someone is the simple assurance: there’s a place for you here.
To: Celebrate
Quest is back! Our weekly program for middle schoolers is all about creating a fun, welcoming space where students can build friendships, grow in character, and have a place where they undoubtedly belong. We just kicked off a new school year, and one new 8th grader who was a little worried about coming had a strong first experience. His verdict? “It was great!” Through games, snacks, and a dedicated mentor team, fear turned to fun, and he is now looking forward to the coming weeks. That’s exactly what Quest is about; a place where students can show up, be themselves, make friends, and enjoy their time together.
We also want to give a huge shout out to the Roberts Family Foundation! Their continued support to help grow Quest from a pilot program into a core part of our Youth Programming has been instrumental. For the past two years, they’ve invested in middle schoolers’ character development and family stability, helping make this community even stronger. We are so grateful for their partnership and excited for another year of laughter, connection, and growth at Quest!
To: Connect
To find an organizational partnership that allows both parties to operate within their full gifting can be rare. Thankfully, God has blessed To:gether Canby with phenomenal partnerships and we are so grateful for every single one of them.
Bob’s Red Mill is one such partner making a big difference in our community. In the month of September alone, they donated an incredible 6,300 pounds of food, helping us provide nutritious (and very tasty) options to more than 300 families in our community. This kind of generosity is what makes community care possible – it’s neighbors and local partners coming together to make sure families have good food on the table. Thank you, Bob’s Red Mill, for showing up for our community and helping us connect families with food they can feel good about!
If you work for, or know someone at, a company that regularly has surplus food, overstock, or bulk donations, we’d love to connect with you. One business relationship can help hundreds of local neighbors access healthy food each week. Call (503) 263-1130 to learn how your business can help fill our Market!
To: Serve
There’s always room to serve at To:gether Canby. Whether you have an hour to give, a special skill to share, or simply a desire to show up for your neighbors, there’s a place for you here. Our volunteer opportunities span all kinds of interests and schedules – from serving lunch and helping in clothing, to welcoming guests for laundry, organizing the warehouse, or picking up food donations. Every role, big or small, helps create a community where people feel seen, supported, and cared for.
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Volunteers can also get involved with Backpack Buddies, become a Reading Mentor, serve with Quest, and so much more. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start, just a willingness to help. We’d love to find a way for you to connect your time and talents with the needs of our community!
To: Give
As we approach the end of the year, we wanted to remind you of a few items that work to your benefit. If you’re required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a traditional IRA or other eligible retirement account, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) may offer a meaningful way to give. A QCD allows you to give directly from your IRA to a qualified nonprofit like To:gether Canby, counting toward your RMD while helping provide meals for families, access to showers and laundry, youth programming, and other support services that help our neighbors feel seen, supported, and connected. The distribution can be made tax-free, so if this applies to you, we invite you to talk with your financial advisor or tax professional about whether a QCD could be a meaningful way to give back to your community.
Jesus calls us to love our neighbors – not simply with words, but with our lives. Often, that love looks wonderfully ordinary: showing up, making room, meeting a need, and reminding someone that they are seen and valued.
Let us not love with words or in speech, but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18
Caring for one another is something we were never meant to do alone. Community grows when we notice the needs around us and choose to respond together.
This month, we’re celebrating the many ways our community is living that out – putting faith into action, caring for our neighbors, and becoming the hands and feet of Christ right here in Canby.
To: Celebrate
At Canby PD’s Annual Grill & Chill Event, we had the joy of welcoming families with children and providing each child with a free backpack filled with school supplies to help them head into the new school year feeling prepared, confident, and encouraged. Together, we provided 266 backpacks, each one representing more than school supplies – it represented care, generosity, and community saying, “We’re here for you.”
What made this event so special was seeing our community show up for one another, despite the smoke-filled air. From the families who joined us, to Canby PD and everyone who helped make the day possible, the Grill & Chill was filled with generosity, connection, and hope. We are incredibly grateful for every person and group who played a part in making this day meaningful – especially Fairway Mortgage and Canby Kiwanis Club . Here’s to continuing to show up, lift one another up, and make a difference – one family, one child, and one act of kindness at a time.
Last month we also had the joy of partnering with Canby Christian Alliance Church to host CREATE Camp – a week long camp designed to give kids a creative outlet through the world of theater. Throughout the week, children explored their creativity, built confidence, and learned biblical lessons that encouraged them along the way. The week wrapped with each age group putting on a play for families and friends, giving them the opportunity to celebrate and share all the hard work they had put in. It was a wonderful week filled with creativity, laughter, learning, and lots of fun!
To: Connect
Sometimes, what looks like an empty space can become an invitation for something greater. This past month, a late food delivery meant a few of our market shelves were unexpectedly empty just as our members arrived to do their weekly shopping. Instead of simply leaving those shelves bare, we put up a banner inviting our members to fill the space by sharing something they were grateful for. What happened next was far more meaningful than we could have imagined. Our empty shelves quickly became a beautiful display of gratitude, encouragement, hope, and inspiration.
We were overwhelmed by the response. Members shared words that reminded us just how much goodness surrounds us – even in unexpected moments. What we saw as empty shelves, God used to fill with something so much better. He turned a moment of disappointment into a wake-up call to notice the blessings all around us. Sometimes, we just need to pause and look at what God is doing in the spaces we thought were empty. There is always more hope, more goodness, and more to be grateful for than we realize.
To: Serve
To:gether Canby is all about creating opportunities for people to make a meaningful difference by serving others. We’re excited to invite our community to our upcoming Volunteer Info Night, where you can learn more about the many ways to get involved and find a place to serve that fits your gifts, interests, and availability. Whether you love working in the kitchen, organizing and distributing clothing, helping in the warehouse, supporting students in local schools, or welcoming and serving guests, there’s a place for you!
You don’t have to have it all figured out – you just have to be willing to show up and make a difference. Our goal is to connect people with opportunities where they can use their time and talents to bring hope, encouragement, and practical help to others. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved, meet great people, and serve your community, Volunteer Info Night is a great place to start. Come discover where you can plug in and be part of something bigger!
To: Give
Your financial support helps us create meaningful opportunities for our community to thrive. Through your generosity, we’re able to keep our market stocked so members and guests can shop weekly for free, providing families with access to essential groceries and resources. As the new school year begins, your support also helps us prepare for Backpack Buddies, ensuring local students have the food and encouragement they need to start each week ready to learn.
Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates generously, serves faithfully, connects intentionally, and gives with open hands. Together, we’re renewing dignity and inspiring learning one relationship at a time.
There are moments when you can almost see a community taking shape.
It’s in a volunteer carefully hanging clothes by size. It’s in a reading mentor sitting across from a student, sounding out words together. It’s in the laughter that fills a room as LEGO towers stretch higher and imaginations come alive.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
Hebrews 10:24
Community isn’t built through one big moment. It’s built through thousands of small acts of generosity, kindness, and welcome.
Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve been celebrating this month.
To: Celebrate
One of the quiet joys of our clothing share is watching someone discover exactly what they need.
In the past month, we served 227 families through our clothing share, compared to 111 families this time last year. That’s more than double the number of households experiencing the dignity of choosing quality clothing in a welcoming environment.
We’re grateful for every person who donates gently loved clothing so our members and guests can shop from items they’d be proud to wear. We’re grateful for the volunteers who faithfully sort, organize, and display each donation with care. And we’re grateful for the volunteers who greet every shopper with warmth, creating an experience that feels less like receiving assistance and more like being welcomed into a community.
Thank you for helping renew dignity, one family at a time.
To: Connect
One of our favorite evenings this month was our Make It & Take It LEGO Night.
Children, parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends gathered around tables covered in colorful bricks. There were castles, race cars, airplanes, and creations that could only exist in the imagination of their builders. Best of all, everyone left with something they created themselves.
It’s a simple evening, but it’s a beautiful reminder that belonging doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes a community is built one LEGO brick at a time.
We’d love to see you at our next Make It & Take It LEGO Night on Tuesday, August 12th, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Register here!
We’re also looking forward to the Canby Grill & Chill event on Monday, August 4th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration. Families with students attending school in Canby, Aurora, or Hubbard can receive a free backpack and school supplies when their student is present and registered.
Reserve your student’s backpack today! We hope to see you there.
To: Serve
Summer has a way of slipping by quickly. Before long, school hallways will be full again, backpacks will be packed, and students will be settling into new classrooms.
That also means it’s time to prepare the caring adults who will walk alongside them.
We’re now recruiting volunteers for our Reading Mentor and QUEST programs for the upcoming school year. Whether you have years of experience working with kids or simply the heart to encourage the next generation, you can make a lasting difference.
Sometimes the greatest gift a student receives isn’t a lesson – it’s knowing that someone consistently shows up for them.
If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to invest in the future of our community, we’d love to have you join us. Learn more about volunteer opportunities.
To: Give
The work of To:gether Canby is made possible because of faithful people who believe in caring for our neighbors.
One of the most meaningful ways to partner with this mission is by becoming a Friend of Canby through a recurring monthly gift. Monthly generosity provides dependable support throughout the year, helping us plan ahead and continue serving youth and families with consistency and care.
As we continue expanding our food programs and filling our new Market with nutritious groceries, we’re also looking for business partners who can help us feed our members and guests.
Do you work for – or know someone at – a company that regularly has surplus food, overstock, or bulk donations? One business relationship can help hundreds of local neighbors access healthy food each week.
Let’s start a conversation. Call (503) 263-1130 to learn how your business can help fill our Market!
Thank you for being part of a community that celebrates generously, serves faithfully, connects intentionally, and gives with open hands. Together, we’re renewing dignity and inspiring learning one relationship at a time.
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.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
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.
To: Celebrate
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.
To: Serve
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.
To: Connect
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.
To: Give
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.
Same commitment. Same community. A new name for the future ahead.
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, 2025 – The Canby Center News
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).
Thank you! Every offering of help and hope strengthens our community—opening doors.
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.
Comprised of 64 trees decorated by community members of all ages, our Community Christmas Tree shows how hope grows when we connect, contribute, and celebrate one another in God’s love.
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!
Christmas in Canby | December 6, 2025
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.
- Brittney Hopping, a Canby native, has supported Vanessa’s vision at every step.
- Amy Baez, of Fit for Excellence, arranged key 5K details.
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.”
We are so thankful for Vanessa, Brittney, Amy, and all the volunteers and supporting businesses who made this year’s celebration possible.
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).
Every Step: Together
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.
A runner knows that good food powers good results.
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.
The Heart of a Monthly Partner
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.
Giving Tuesday is December 2nd, 2026
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:
- hearty breads from Dave’s Killer Bread,
- fresh produce from Canby’s own Caruso Produce,
- quality grains and flowers from Bob’s Red Mill, and
- familiar favorites from Costco, WinCo, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, and Cutsforth’s Market.
These partners give food to The Canby Center—believing that good food opens doors to healthier, more hopeful lives.
“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.
Why Monthly Support Matters
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.
Will You Join Us as a Monthly Partner?
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!
Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025.
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.
At The Canby Center, the hands and feet of God’s people are busy about the Father’s work: to 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
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“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:
- Canby Alliance Church — meeting space
- Canby Christian Church — temporary staff workspace
- Canby Evangelical Church — weekly tutoring host
- Canby Foursquare Church — meeting space
- Christ the King Church — relationship-strengthening class host
- St. Patrick’s Catholic Church — Harvest Share food distribution host
- Zoar Lutheran Church — food drive organizer
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.
Thank you for partnering with us in God’s love, together.
In Step With Service
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,
we’ve moved 41,452 lbs. of food in the few weeks since we gained our temporary occupancy permit.
“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.
Together We Give
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.”
A Hand Up, Not A Handout
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.
- Shop our Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/ivqt0s3
- Donate Online: thecanbycenter.org/donate (designation: Holiday Programs)
- Drop off stocking stuffers at The Canby Center or Canby Christian Church; receiving Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
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.
It’s great to see their faces light up at the idea of giving to their sibling, a teacher or parent,” shared a participant from last year’s event.
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!
Together At The Table
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.
My favorite moment of the festive build-up to the holidays is putting an extra leaf in the table.
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.
Frank is a man of few words — a humble man who won’t take more than is freely offered.
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.
I’m wondering about the doors that closed to him — the opportunity cost — because of his military service.
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.
We’re excited that Sandra has found stability here — weekly resources and people who care for her specifically.
“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.
Today is Veteran’s Day. I’m humbled that our no-cost services are making a difference for those who have sacrificed so much.
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.
