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Together At The Center
As The Canby Center expansion project soars, I’m often asked the same key questions on my daily tours. Here are a few answers:
How big is the new building? The Canby Center is growing by over 265% in cubic feet! We’re more than tripling our square footage, expanding from 5,000 to 18,000 square feet.
What is the expansion for? The new and remodeled building will include dedicated space for food distribution, expanded classrooms, showers, laundry, exam rooms, food service, and other vital support services for our neighbors in need.
Where is your office Ray? As the Lord allows me to serve here (a privilege I don’t take for granted), you’ll find me upstairs in the southmost corner.
Will the expansion include an overnight homeless shelter? No. While we serve unhoused guests with hot meals, clothing, prayer, laundry, and referrals, The Canby Center’s mission is to renew dignity and inspire learning for youth and families. We will not be an overnight or daytime shelter.
Why does this expansion matter? When we think about caring for our vulnerable neighbors, it can be tempting to ask, What can I do that won’t disrupt my life too much? But what if instead, we asked, How can I bring my very best? Imagine the transformation that happens when we serve selflessly, give generously, and love relentlessly. This expansion is Canby coming together to offer its highest and best to those in need.
Jesus taught that “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)
At first, our efforts may seem small. But love, compassion, and service grow over time, changing lives—including mine.
Likewise, The Canby Center’s impact might feel like a drop in the ocean compared to our community’s needs. But each meal served, each mentoring session, each prayer offered, builds momentum. One small act of kindness can spark lasting change.
On January 2, 2025, our service year began with a simple hot lunch and fresh salad. Over the next 12 months, that single meal will be joined by more than 34,000 other acts of service. What starts as a tiny seed of hope grows into something truly significant.
Thank you for being a part of this growing work,
We're In This Together
The last few weeks have brought sunny days to Canby but also bitterly cold nights. A warm coat can make a vital difference for health and well-being. Thanks to the generosity of donors and local businesses, families in our Thriving Together program had the opportunity to pick out brand-new coats for their kids.
“As a single parent, I pulled my kids out of school last year because they had outgrown all their clothes. I couldn’t afford to clothe my kids. Now I know that we will be okay.”
A warm coat meets a simple need, but for a child it can mean everything — a step toward a brighter future, a stronger sense of self, and the reassurance that they are surrounded by people who care.
“I was volunteering at the food distribution and we were also giving away coats. A child in jeans and a t-shirt came in, shivering; from the supply of new coats, we found one he loved—a size just right for a growing boy. He won't have to shiver anymore.”
Building For Tomorrow
Enjoy this time-lapse video to see the incredible progress so far!
Want to be a part? Support the building campaign through the purchase of a personalized brick; leave your mark at the entrance of the new building!
In Step With Service
Meet Pam McDavid, The Canby Center’s newest board member! For several years, Pam has volunteered at our reception desk weekly and shared her culinary skills with the community by leading a canning class in our industrial kitchen. “It is important to me to be able to point to Christ as our true hope,” Pam shares. “I am impressed by the way TCC is run, equipped, and maintained, and I’m thrilled to see the growth taking place - both in the services and the people it serves.” With a passion for hospitality, teaching, and listening, we’re excited for Pam to step into this leadership role. Welcome, Pam!
Meet the team of servant leaders whose efforts are making a lasting impact in our community.
Restoring Health, Renewing Dignity
Dental health impacts the whole person! After all, your mouth is where you smile and where you eat to get nourishment. As part of our commitment to renewing dignity, The Canby Center is a host site for Medical Teams International's mobile dental clinic. About once a month, MTI’s dental van visits The Canby Center, providing no-cost fillings and extractions to individuals facing barriers to care. “When people are in pain, we must help,” said Jill Ewanchuk, MTI's Oregon Program Manager. With a fleet of 11 vans and a team of skilled dentists and hygienists, MTI serves people with disabilities, seniors, those experiencing poverty or houselessness, migrant workers, veterans, and more. The Canby Center performs the necessary screenings to help connect eligible patients with dental care.
Since 2020, The Canby Center has hosted 287 dental appointments to eliminate pain, prevent future tooth decay, and restore dignity. One of those patients, we'll call Ellen, shared her story with us.
"Before I lost coverage, I learned I have several roots and pieces of crowns that need to be removed. I knew the sooner I got care, the sooner I could eat well again. Thank you! I’m looking forward to being able to speak without being embarrassed.”
Ellen’s gratitude is a testament to the life-changing impact of this partnership. Essential care like this is made possible by the generous support of donors like you. Thank you for helping us renew dignity and inspire hope for those we serve.
Together We Give
Canby needs a friend. The demand for meals at TCC has risen by more than 20%, and we need your help to keep up. By joining Friends of Canby with a commitment of $100 per month or more, you’ll provide the steady support that allows us to sustain vital programs and expand to meet growing needs.
As a token of our gratitude, after your first three monthly gifts of $100 or more, we’ll send you a Friends of Canby YETI traveler mug — our way of saying THANK YOU for standing with us. Will you be a Friend of Canby today?
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