.png)
Together: Canby Center News July 2025
- The Canby Center
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
“I don’t think we would have made it without Quest.”
That’s what one parent shared with me as we stood side-by-side watching their child graduate from the Quest program. “Quest has held us together during a very dark time. We are grateful.”
Quest is unlike other youth mentoring programs. It engages both middle school students and their families — creating a ripple of impact that touches the entire home. I watched on a sun-soaked afternoon as several students celebrated their completion of the program, preparing to enter high school with greater self-awareness, stronger social skills, and deepening faith.
At The Canby Center, we don’t run from the hard things. We are running toward them! Ask most adults if they’d mentor a middle-schooler, and they’ll quickly find the nearest exit. But through Quest, we’ve seen mentors step in with courage, and the results have been remarkable.
One student put it this way:
“When I walk down the hall and see someone from Quest, I feel better—because it’s like a part of home is here.”
Each week, youth meet with a caring adult mentor to explore themes like Respect, Empathy, Problem-Solving, Confidence, and Goal-Setting. Monthly, families gather in support of one another, and together they enjoy enriching annual field trips—building connection and trust.
As I listen to their stories — of gratitude, of facing fears, of lives changed — I’m struck by something profound: these youth, families, and mentors have learned to love people who were once strangers. That kind of love is powerful. And it’s beautiful.
Could you be the one to help transform a life? We’re currently seeking mentors for the next session of Quest this fall. Perhaps this is your time to step in.
The simple act of choosing a backpack can mean the world to a child. It’s more than just a bag. It’s a symbol of readiness, confidence, and a fresh start.
At our annual Backpack and School Supplies Distribution, families come not only to receive, but to reconnect and feel part of something bigger.
“My kids love school because of the routine and the social time,” one parent shared with us.
"I hope they come home safe. I hope they make friends. And I hope they grow up with humility and to be leaders."
These hopes gets packed into every backpack we will give away this summer!
To the generous people who make this possible, another parent put it simply: “Thank you for thinking of us!"
A backpack will not solve every challenge, but it’s a strong first step. Help us send kids back to school with confidence and care!
Join the Generosity by August 3rd!
Give a new backpack: Drop off in The Canby Center lobby Monday–Thursday, 11 AM–5 PM (681 SW 2nd Ave, between the high school and McDonald’s).
Support financially: Prefer to give online? Donate here; select “Backpacks and School Supplies” — we’ll purchase in bulk.
On a quiet evening, something extraordinary happened at The Canby Center's building expansion site.
The usual hum of construction — shouts, hammering, and heavy machinery — had ceased. The crews and trades had finished for the day. But within the stillness, a small group remained: staff members, board members, and their families. Donning hard hats and carrying pens, they walked the hallways of a place that holds deep meaning.
We gathered not just to see progress, but to mark it with prayer, Scripture, and hope.
With internal walls now providing surfaces to sign, we inscribed blessings, dreams, and truth directly into the very bones of the building.
The youngest visitor carefully wrote out Proverbs 3:5 – 6 which he has recently memorized:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
“Writing truth and hope directly onto the walls was emotional,” one staff member reflected. “It became real to me — the significance of what is possible because of the generosity of so many people.”
Another participant shared, “This provided a moment in time that was a pause, connecting with the purpose and God's heart for the space. There was such a sense of expectation — that Canby is a place to bless with this space for learning, for dignity, for connection, for relationships to grow.”
What began as careful lines on a blueprint is now a space we can walk through, write on, and dedicate with prayer. Much more than a structure, it’s a reflection of the mission behind our work. Discover more about what motivates this expansion and the impact it’s meant to have in our community.
Enjoy this time-lapse video to see the incredible progress so far!
If you’ve ever lived through a home remodel, you know the challenges of dust, noise, and maybe not knowing your way around your own home! That’s the kind of disruption our volunteers have been navigating lately.
When The Canby Center chose to stay open during construction so vital services could continue, we invited volunteers to flow with us through the constant change.
And with change, come a lot of feelings.
At a recent volunteer training, we invited each person to choose an image from a stack of photos and share how it represented their experience of change.
Here are a few of their thoughtful reflections:
“Change is like a sunset. Even though darkness comes, light will come. God’s mercies are new every day.”
"You can choose to be sweet, even when change happens.”
“In uncertainty, light breaks through. There’s new hope every day.”
“Change is good, but also hard. There’s anxiety—it all mixes together.”
“Change means hard, impossible things can happen.”
Our volunteer team is facing the “construction squeeze” with courage, grace, and curiosity.
Clothing donations are down 31% from the prior 12 months. We have the volunteers and soon we'll have the space to stockpile for fall and winter needs.
You can help today!
Please check your closets, drawers, and shoe bins for gently used items that could find new life in someone else’s home.
Donate: Drop off in The Canby Center lobby Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–5 PM (681 SW 2nd Ave, between the high school and McDonald’s).
Access more stats about our ongoing work on the home page: https://thecanbycenter.org/
