Together: Canby Center News June 2025

The Canby Center
May 30
6 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago

Together At The Center

Jesus had a bedraggled band of followers. On any given day, the disciples could be found arguing about who among them was the greatest, fearful in the midst of a storm, or grumbling about things that just didn’t matter. Just days from surrendering His life on the cross — a death that would bring salvation — Jesus served.

The Apostle John writes:

“He rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him… When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

At The Canby Center, we too are a bedraggled band. Apart from Jesus’ work in us, we would grumble, doubt, and serve our own ambitions. But the Master is in our midst — and He has washed our feet. Jesus has shown us that leading starts with serving.

This week we came across a box of founding documents that have been in storage. The Canby Center’s founding vision statement, written in 2007, reads:

Eighteen years later, I see that vision flourishing. In our first year, about 100 people volunteered with The Canby Center. Last year, we counted 589 individuals who served with us. Since our founding, we’ve provided over 280,000 services to our community.

This week, I greeted a guest at our door — a man I’ll call Marshall. He came to serve. He rides the bus to The Canby Center and finds shelter wherever he can. He’s working to reset his life, and for him, serving others is a way forward. He’s ready for the renewal that comes with service.

The Canby Center continues to undergo major changes to serve more people in the future. We are adapting our programs and priorities to serve safely during construction.

Ways to Give, When, and How

We are accepting clothing and food donations through our new side door entrance. Follow the signs to stay safe; we are here and ready to help you unload!

You may be wondering how you can serve. In this blog post you can read about how

families are contributing to food drives,
volunteers make possible our twice-weekly food distribution, and
summer programing for kids that relies on 1-on-1 mentoring to be truly transformative.

You can learn more and sign up to serve on our website's Volunteer Calendar.

Whether you offer your time, resources, or prayers, we can each be part of this story of transformation.

Thank you! As we continue building, we are reminded that service is the foundation. May we rise, take up the towel, and serve, together.

A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out

If you happened to walk on NW 5th Ave. in Canby on May 9, you would have seen a colorful domino chain of cereal boxes stretched from Knight Elementary to Eccles Elementary, closing an entire city street in celebration of a powerful community effort.

Behind the fun was a serious need. In the Canby area, 1 in 10 residents — about 2,000 people — face food insecurity. That’s why, for three weeks this spring, students and families from Knight and Eccles Elementary Schools joined forces to collect cereal for neighbors in need. The result?

A record-breaking 618 boxes donated to The Canby Center for distribution through its free membership food program.

“Giving a cereal box may feel like a small thing, but it is important. Every box helps someone,” said Amie Mykisen, school counselor at Knight Elementary and the heart behind the drive.

Amie was inspired by the enthusiasm. “I saw dozens of kids in the last few weeks come to school and unzip their backpack, pulling out a big box of cereal! The kids feel super proud to give something.”

The final box tally was just one highlight of this joyful campaign. To celebrate, the two schools built a larger-than-life domino display of cereal boxes — a visual symbol of the connectedness that generosity creates. "It's a two-way street," Amie explains, "We all have something to give and something to receive."

When The Canby Center van arrived, students helped load the donations with energy and pride. One student, arms stacked high with cereal boxes, summed it up best: “I want to go to recess, but I also want to help my community.”

“The timing for this is perfect,” Amie reflected. “As summer approaches and families work to make ends meet and keep food in the pantry, we know this cereal will fill the gap.”

Special thanks to Eccles Elementary Principal Mr. Kelly Rogers and Knight Elementary Principal Ms. Christine Taylor for supporting this incredible effort.

As Amie put it, “We want students to be learning that helping the community doesn’t have to be big and fancy—it can start with a cereal box.”

Join the generosity!

Donate food: Drop off shelf-stable food in our lobby Monday–Thursday, 11 AM–5 PM (681 SW 2nd Ave, between the high school and McDonald’s).

Give

Support: Prefer to give online? Donate here and select “Where Most Needed” to make an immediate impact.

In Step With Service

Volunteers Needed

Love books? Want to make a difference in a child’s life this summer?

Join us as a volunteer for Summer Book Club — a free community program hosted by the Canby Public Library in partnership with The Canby Center’s Reading Mentors program. For 10 weeks, incoming 2nd–5th graders will gather weekly for group story time, themed activities, and one-on-one reading with caring adult mentors.

Kids who read for fun, read to learn. Help build confidence, connection, and a lifelong love of reading—one page at a time.

📚 Tuesdays, June 17 – August 19

🕝 Session A: 2:30–3:45 PM

🕓 Session B: 4:00–5:15 PM

📍 The Canby Public Library, Willamette Room

You can volunteer weekly or as a sub for one or both sessions. No teaching experience required—just a love of reading and a heart for kids!

Apply to Volunteer with Summer Book Club

We’re In This Together

In a recent conversation with Christina Ramirez, Assistant Programs Director for Thriving Together, one phrase stood out:

“Something as basic as food security means now a family can hope.”

At The Canby Center, members of our free Thriving Together membership program are saving $400 per month, or more, on groceries — a game-changer for families working hard to make ends meet.

Recently, a new family joined the program. After surviving dangerous and destabilizing circumstances, they were starting over from scratch. “We’ve been to other places for help,” they shared, “and had low expectations when we signed up for Thriving Together.”

But everything changed at their first Harvest Share food distribution.

“We were greeted warmly,” they said, “and a kind volunteer respectfully asked if we had any prayer needs." Instead of being handed a pre-selected box of food, the family got to choose what they needed from the available fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, bread, and pantry staples.

"When life feels so out of our control, it meant everything to choose what our family would eat that week.”

That experience of dignity through choice is no accident.

“Dignity is what sets us apart,” says Christina. “We help people meet the immediate need of putting food on the table, while also showing them they’re not alone. It’s about connection. It’s about being seen. This is where relationships are built or rebuilt, even within yourself.”

You can help make stories like this possible.

Give

Volunteer

Donate now – every dollar makes a difference.
Volunteer at a Harvest Share – view the volunteer calendar and find a role that fits your skills and schedule.