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Together At The Center
It’s disorienting… and for a moment my middle-class world is spinning. I’ve driven in my car past people caught in the grip of poverty. For most of my adult life, I didn’t really know what I could do to help. Should I give them some cash? Isn’t that what they need or want and isn’t it safer for me to just keep my distance?
There’s a mom holding a baby in a sling, with a seven-year-old boy eating ramen from a Styrofoam cup, squeezed into a stroller too small for him. As I exit the grocery store into the chilly evening, she holds a sign: “Lost my home and need help. Please. Thank you!” Do I give her the $20 bill in my wallet? What will she do with it? What can I, as one person, actually do to help?
Have you ever felt that tension between having the means to help and feeling like it’s not enough? I do have $20 (the capacity to help), but my $20 won’t change her situation (the incapacity to truly help). After years of serving the poor, may I humbly suggest that cash alone won’t reduce poverty? Only God can do that, and He works through people. It’s through loving, compassionate, and healthy relationships that people become agents of change in each other’s lives.
Jesus taught that the poor in spirit are blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. He came to proclaim “good news to the poor,” and He identified with them so deeply that He said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” In other words, Jesus takes it personally when we mistreat the poor, and He takes it personally when we help them. Take Will, for example.
Will loves to cook. Last week, Will was eating lunch at The Canby Center; I sat down beside him. I learned he’s worked in agriculture and other short-term jobs, but now he’s out of work, struggling to make ends meet. I encouraged him to volunteer in our kitchen, and this week he began serving meals to others. In time, his love of food and service might even lead to a job. I certainly hope so. This is how I see change happening: through a conversation, a next step, looking someone in the eyes. And change is happening through people like Mallory Gwynn, who you’ll read about below, and others who come alongside neighbors like Will. Together, we make a real difference, one relationship at a time.
Volunteer Spotlight: Mallory Gwynn
Mallory Gwynn, a recently retired business owner, has made a big impact in the community. From 2018 to 2023, Mallory and his family owned the beloved Gwynn’s Coffeehouse, where they became known for homemade soups and heartfelt customer service.
Today, he brings that same spirit of connection to The Canby Center - Gwynn’s style. “It's all about the people,” he says, describing the joy and fulfillment he finds as a weekly volunteer on the lunch service team. “I love walking around, learning names, and making sure everyone feels welcome.” Through The Canby Center’s community lunch, 9,557 lunches have been served in just the last 12 months!
Mallory's commitment to service doesn’t stop there. Middle school was tough for him; he recalls “very few teachers who showed real interest in my life. What I wanted to do was go back and be one of the people to speak into a young person’s life. I heard about Quest and thought, that’s it! That’s what I need to do.”
Now mentoring a young man once a week, Mallory says the experience has taught him a lot about listening. “At 68, I’ve got a lot to share and a lot to learn! I feel like I’m being mentored too! It’s a very well-organized program.” When asked what he’d say to someone who might be thinking about volunteering with The Canby Center, Mallory’s advice is simple: “Just do it! Get out there, plug into The Canby Center and see for yourself.”
Whether you feel called to help serve meals or build relationships, there's a place for you here.
Mallory Gwynn shares about his volunteer experience at The Canby Center:
Together This Thanksgiving
Together This Thanksgiving
Help us collect 220 turkeys by November 8th to ensure everyone in our community enjoys a warm meal this holiday. Here’s how you can help:
At Cutsforth’s Market in Canby, tell the cashier you’d like to purchase a turkey for The Canby Center
Donate online and we’ll take care of the rest; select “Holiday Programs” from the drop down at www.thecanbycenter.org/donate
Your special gift today will help us give families fresh, nutritious food this Thanksgiving. Select “Holiday Programs” in the designation drop-down. Thank you!
Building For Tomorrow
“Something that breaks my heart,” said board member Angie Navarro, “is that when people might come here and we might not be able to serve all of their needs because of the limits in space that we have.” Angie is the principle at Trost Elementary School in Canby where an estimated 2,000 area residents are living at or below the poverty line. “Everyone wants to belong someplace,” shared Joy Thom, Director of Programs at The Canby Center. “A new building for us means that there is always space for you.”
That space - a 12,000 sq. ft. addition to our facility - is taking shape. The foundation is laid, walls are going up fast, and the elevator shaft is soaring high!
Watch out progress in action!
In Step With Service
We’re celebrating the addition of a new member to our Board of Directors. Dave Baretich is a Canby resident and professional engineer and consultant. He earned a BSEE from Iowa State University. Dave has extensive experience in electronic power conversion and semiconductors, with 22 patents granted. Dave enjoys connecting with people in corporate and service environments and supporting local ministry work. Welcome, Dave!
We’re In This Together
On a crisp autumn evening, 57 community members gathered for a lively class in our Strengthening Relationships series. Free to all and filled with laughter and creativity, families enjoyed painting pumpkins donated by a local farm! We noticed a pair of first-time attendees. This father-son were a little apprehensive to interact but soon they were enthusiastically painting! Next they were walking around to admire others' creations and proudly carried home their masterpieces, with smiles to match their toothy jack-o'-lantern’s smiles.
At The Canby Center we're committed to strengthening family connections. We are happy to do the planning, gather the supplies, and provide a space free from home’s distractions. We’ve found that this setup gives parents a rare chance to immerse themselves in the moment, experiencing the joy side-by-side with their children.
Thank you for hosting us, Christ The King Church!
Have you thought about sharing a craft or skill with the community? Whether it’s something you know well or want to explore, we can make it happen with the materials, space, and support. All it takes is your willingness to step just a bit outside your comfort zone. The community will thank you!
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