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Opening Doors: In God's Love
- The Canby Center
- Nov 25
- 6 min read
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.
Today, 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
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.
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