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Together: Canby Center News October 2025
- The Canby Center
- Sep 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 1
My sense of anticipation was obvious—at least to me—on my first day serving at The Canby Center in September 2015. Fresh off completing my MBA in Nonprofit Management the year before, I hadn’t lingered long over other opportunities. That first day, I felt both the excitement of making a difference and the nervousness of making mistakes.
Not long into my tenure, a local donor invited me to lunch and asked directly: “How long do you plan to be here?” It was a fair question—the prior director had served only two years. Without hesitation, I replied, “I hope to be at the Center until my children graduate from high school.”
At that time, I stepped in as the Center’s third Executive Director. The needs were clear: renew the mission, vision, and values; reinvigorate relationships with donors and churches; and strengthen our systems of information and communication.
But beyond the tasks, it was—and still is—the people who are the heart of The Canby Center.
They drew me in, and they continue to keep me here.
God’s Provision
In God’s providence, the very needs of the Center were areas He had been strengthening in me before I arrived. Ten years later, we’ve seen His faithfulness in remarkable ways:
$10 million capital campaign completed, tripling our facility size.
Staff growth from 4 to 13.
More than double the services, from 14,000 to 35,000 a year.
Reading Mentors Program (2017): 6,201 new free books placed in the hands of children, along with 8,884 hours of one-on-one reading.
Quest mentoring program (2023): Helping middle school students re-engage in education while strengthening their families.
Over the past decade, more than 221,000 services have been provided to our neighbors in need.
Growing Anticipation
Today, I feel that same mix of anticipation and purpose that I felt ten years ago. Our food redistribution space is expanding by nearly 1,000%. New classrooms will soon host classes in life skills, language, and financial literacy.
With each new opportunity, our mission to share God’s love and hope grows deeper and broader.
Jesus and his followers taught that the lives Christ transformed would bear fruit. He emphasized that His Kingdom would be visible not through bombs and barbed-wire, but through the fruit of the Spirit—lives transformed by the Spirit’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23; Matthew 7:16–20; John 15:5–8). I pray that as The Canby Center grows physically, we will bear even more fruit in the future.
On a personal note, my daughter Selah is now a junior at Canby High School. That donor’s question from long ago echoes in my mind. My prayer is that God will continue to extend my season of service here, so that together, with our staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, we can continue to build a stronger, more hope-filled Canby.
With a decade of gratitude,
When The Canby Center began planning for its facility expansion, we knew this project would call for more than just technical expertise. It would require a builder aligned with our mission—someone who valued integrity, stewardship, and community impact as much as we do.
By spring 2023, our contractor selection committee carefully evaluated several firms using a detailed scoring system. Categories included local presence, pricing, track record, integrity, responsiveness, and connection to our mission. Out of that process, Triplett Wellman rose above the rest. On July 18, 2023, our Board of Directors unanimously approved their selection as general contractor.
“Triplett Wellman stood out through their track record and their willingness to maximize the impact of every dollar we were raising," explains Ray Keen, TCC's Executive Director.
Every detail of this facility, from the floorboards to the ceiling paint, reflects a deep stewardship of resources and a commitment to our community. Triplett Wellman employed a practice called value engineering—finding smarter, more cost-effective ways to achieve equal or better results.
The economy has shifted since the contract was signed, and Triplett Wellman has shouldered unexpected costs. Yet their generosity hasn’t stopped there.
“Triplett Wellman has gone above and beyond our expectations,” shares Mark Smith, TCC's Director of Expansion.
"Even as conditions changed, they delivered excellence while also joining our donors with a generous $10,000 gift to support The Canby Center’s operations.” With 27 projects in Canby, their legacy of service and community care is evident in the spaces they build.
“We're preparing to open the doors of our expanded facility in the weeks ahead," Ray says.
"We are proud to have Triplett Wellman by our side, helping us meet the physical and relational needs of our neighbors with dignity and care.”
Thanks to this partnership, our expansion is more than construction—it is a shared effort to create lasting impact for Canby.
All services at 681 SW 2nd are paused temporarily. We will not be accepting clothing or food donations onsite, and volunteering at this location will also be on hold. For everyone’s safety, please avoid entering the marked construction area.
Youth programs are not affected by this service pause, continuing safely at offsite locations.
The Canby Center's staff are working and ready to serve you! Call us at 503-266-2920 or connect with us online.
Our mailing address is still active during construction. We have worked with the postal service to ensure continued delivery of our mail at this time. If you encounter any issues with mailing your donation or other communications, please contact hannah@thecanbycenter.org
For Pam, tutoring at The Canby Center is a source of joy and purpose. A retired teacher, she lights up when describing why she volunteers: “The ability to work with one child at a time is pure bliss. My purpose in life is to make a difference in the world, and I know (at least I hope!) I’m doing that when I tutor.”
Pam's sense of purpose deepens when she sees students break through barriers. One student she tutors has required patience and creativity. “It’s been challenging learning where the gaps are in what she understands. But I like a challenge. I’ve been relearning concepts to prepare, and creating materials we can use together. I'm amazed by the many free resources out there. It's been exciting!"
Tutoring isn’t just about academics; for Pam, it’s about connection.
“Learning can be scary," she explains. "Sometimes I see kids with that ‘deer in the headlights’ look. And I tell them, ‘I know exactly how you feel, because I struggled with math too.’ It’s all about relationship, and building that trust. So I assure them, 'I’m not here to grade you or judge you. I’m here to help.'”
Her advice to anyone considering tutoring echoes that same heart: “Be flexible, keep it positive, and encourage. Children want to be liked, to belong. When they feel cared for, that’s when the learning really happens.”
Pam is quick to add that the rewards flow both ways.
"I get a great deal of personal value from tutoring. And if I can be valuable to my community, that’s deeply meaningful to me.”
At The Canby Center, we offer tutoring at no-cost to families thanks to the generosity of community supporters. With a waitlist of students hoping for this kind of support, the need for tutors is greater than ever.
No matter your background or experience, if you’re inspired by Pam’s service, we would love to connect with you!
Learn more at: https://www.thecanbycenter.org/education
We are delighted to welcome back former board member, Bob Stewart.
Bob retired in 2024 after a 49-year career in education, including 25 years as superintendent of the Gladstone School District. He holds degrees from Warner Pacific University and Portland State University (MPA) and has served on many boards including the Gladstone Education Foundation, Family Stepping Stones Relief Nursery, and the Oregon Health and Education Collaborative. Bob is a Canby Rotary Club member. He and Diana were married for over 50 years. They have five children and 13 grandchildren.
We’re thrilled to share that The Canby Center has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support our Reading Mentors program! The funding will provide brand-new books for children to take home, helping them build personal libraries and a lifelong love of reading.
This award is especially meaningful as The Canby Center was one of only four organizations in Oregon selected this year.
"Receiving this grant affirms the importance of our work,” says Brook Rodrigues, Development Specialist for The Canby Center, who oversaw the granting process.
“It means we can place quality books directly into the hands of kids who might otherwise go without.”
Founded by the family behind Dollar General, the Literacy Foundation has invested 32 years helping learners of all ages pursue their educational dreams. We are grateful to be connected to that legacy here in Canby where every book, every mentor, and every gift of support makes a difference for students.
Inspiring stories of community and connection this summer. Available on the Blog.
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