Bends Community Center lives by it's name. It is our towns community center to provide help and support to all ages to meet the basic needs of so many people. Every time I visit and spend time there I am humbled by the staff and the services that they provide with limited funds. It is an organization of volunteers that want to make a difference and they are!They treat individuals with respect, dignity and support them during tough times. I am amazed at the success stories of individuals who once needed to use the services offered but who are now self suffecient enough and are there to give back.
Our firm has supported Bend's Community Center's Feed the Hungry program on Christmas day for several years. My understanding is that Bend's Community Center is the only place, or one of the only places, in Bend open all Christmas day serving the homeless and hungry on what can be a very difficult and lonely time in a very cold climate. I am always amazed at how much BCC accomplishes in so many areas and we are proud to help the Center in one facet of its many activities. BCC is a true asset to our community and helps many people every day.
I relocated just over a year ago and wanted to get involved with my new community here in Bend as soon as possible. After working on food drives for another organization I discovered Bend's Community Center. With a recently renovated commercial kitchen, cafe, conference space/hall rentals, thriftstore, bike shed and jobs training program, BCC was much more than what it appeared to be on the outside! I was put in touch with Taffy Gleason, the Director of BCC, as someone who might consider helping me start the first Oregon diaper bank - and she welcomed the idea with open arms, so we now run Bend's Community Diaper Bank. Taffy is a visionary who's programs include Feed The Hungry, Keep Them Warm, the Diaper Bank, the Bike Shed and jobs training. Her goal is to reduce land fill, help put people back on their feet through job training, feed the hungry and offer clothing to those that need it. Each program directly effects and pays for the next, allowing her to keep costs very low. BCC feeds 600-800 people throughout Central Oregon each week. They provide bag lunches, take home packages, hot meals and a warm, inviting and respectful environment.