Central Oregon is known as a tight knit, multi-city community whose generosity and willingness to help our neighbors are the heart of what makes this region special. While inclement weather and rising costs can make the holiday season an especially challenging time for organizations that work directly with underserved members of the community, their hard work makes a meaningful difference for those in need. There are ways the public can help as well. Bend Lifestyle has come up with ten small ways our community can give back during this holiday season and beyond.
1. Volunteer at a Food Bank. There are several food banks in Central Oregon. From Madras to Prineville, Bend and La Pine, food pantries are always in need of help with back-of-house duties, distribution and customer care. NeighborImpact, The Giving Plate, St. Vincent De Paul and La Pine Community Kitchen are a few of the organizations needing extra help during the holidays. Check each organization’s website for details on how to sign up!
2. Donate items to a thrift store with purpose. Central Oregon has a plethora of organizations that respond to disasters and needs for the most vulnerable in our community. Late Autumn and wintertime is a high need time, and several organizations rely on local communities to give financial donations, clothing or household items. Furnish Hope & Home, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Humane Society Thrift Story, Opportunity Foundation and Super Thrift are just a few local thrift stores that accept donations with goods directly distributed to those in need and/or sales revenue directly benefiting the organization and their efforts in our community.
3. Serve holiday meals. Nonprofits like Shepard’s House Ministries and Family Kitchen serve hot meals every day for those in need. During the holidays, these organizations are not only in need of meal items like turkeys, hams, vegetables, beverages and deserts – they need volunteers to help carry out their mission by helping to prepare meals, serve guests and clean up after the events. For more information: ShepherdsHouseMinistries.org; FamilyKitchen.org
4. Support an Animal Rescue. There are several small rescue groups and shelters across Central Oregon. These organizations have a dire and constant need for financial assistance, and in-kind donations of food and supplies. Wildlife rescue organization, Think Wild Wildlife Hospital & Conservation Center, has an ongoing need for supplies, as their mission to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife is costly and time consuming. ThinkWildCO.org
5. Round up at a local grocery store. The easiest way to give at the holidays is to ‘round up’ at the check-out stand at participating stores. Round up programs are anonymous and easy to do during the holidays. A full day of ‘rounding up’ allows businesses to give in big ways with thousands of dollars going to local chapters of the United Way, Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.
6. Help seniors in need. Another way to give during the holidays is to get involved with organizations that help with programs and events for seniors in assisted living. The Assistance League of Bend is an all-volunteer based organization that provides programming and events connecting youth to seniors in programs like making holiday cards, playing games and helping with special programs in different assisted living facilities. For more information: AssistanceLeague.org/chapter/bend
7. Help a neighbor. Do you have a neighbor that needs help during the holidays? Getting kids involved in finding a neighbor who needs help with raking leaves, shoveling snow, taking out the trash or walking a dog. It’s a great way to give back and teach kids about outreach in their neighborhood.
8. Organize a food or clothing drive. This random act of kindness can easily be executed at an office, church or sports team gathering. Basic steps: choose an organization to give to, communicate the time frame to the group and create a plan for delivering the donated items.
9. Attend an event that benefits a non-profit organization. Central Oregon is brimming with events that involve bingo, trivia and other activities that bring people together to play, have fun and give back to local non-profit organizations. The Source Weekly updates their event calendar every week and can be found on counters and online: Community.bendsource.com/bend
10. Get involved in a community project. Whether it’s a park cleanup, a community garden upkeep or river clean-up, a great way to give back to the community is to participate in a volunteer community project. The City of Bend and several other organizations offer one day projects that the general public can sign up for year-round. BendOregon.gov/get-involved