Feeding the hungry today with compassion and hospitality.
The Giving Plate is a community-centered nonprofit in Bend, Oregon, dedicated to empowering individuals through compassionate, dignified, and inclusive food relief. By prioritizing each person’s inherent worth and fostering a supportive community, we use food as a means to bring hope, respect, and love to our neighbors in need, ensuring they feel valued beyond their circumstances.
Learn more about us
Our Promises
We are committed to listening and understanding each person’s journey, providing a compassionate experience.
The Giving Plate is dedicated to ensuring that everyone feels valued and seen. We believe in creating a beautiful environment, where guests can process their experiences without judgment. Our approach allows individuals to shop freely, without feeling monitored or singled out.
We empower individuals, fostering an environment of support and growth.
The Giving Plate is committed to training and listening to our volunteers, who are the heart of our organization. We aim to raise the standard of how people expect to be treated, through creating a normalized, empowering shopping experience.
We promise to continually reimagine and innovate in our approach to serving our community.
The Giving Plate actively listens to feedback and seeks areas for improvement, driven by a commitment to excellence and growth. By continually questioning and refining our approach, we ensure that The Giving Plate remains responsive and accessible, always focused on what best serves our community.
Our Community Store is OPEN
•
Our Community Store is OPEN
Our Community Store is OPEN • Our Community Store is OPEN
New to The Giving Plate?
To become a guest of The Giving Plate, please visit us during our open hours. You will fill out a brief Information Form before you do your shopping.
Our Why
At The Giving Plate, our purpose is to foster hope with every interaction. We see each person for who they are, and speak to their worth over their circumstances.
-
![]()
Backpacks for Bend
Backpacks for Bend is the only program of its kind, helping over 900 K-12 food-insecure youth each weekend in over 30 schools in the Bend/La Pine School District.
-
![]()
Grocery Program
We provide food that guests can take home to fill their fridges and pantries, and in our new Community Store model, all guests are able to shop for themselves.
-
![]()
Kid's Korner Market
The Kid's Korner Market is a vibrant and welcoming space where children can embark on a shopping adventure of their own and handpick the food items they desire!
-
![]()
Kid's Korner Mobile Pantry
Housed in a specially designed bus, our unique mobile pantry empowers children to explore, choose, and take home their favorite food items, giving them a voice in their food choices.
-
![]()
Bend Food Project
The Bend Food Project is an innovative, new way to fight hunger in our community, and will become part of The Giving Plate's programs in the beginning of 2025.
The Giving Plate serves an average of over 4,800 individuals a month in Central Oregon.
We have a unique focus on childhood hunger, and as an organization, over 65% of those we serve are under 18.
Many people think our guests are usually homeless, but the reality is that 95% of The Giving Plate’s guests are housed. These are contributing members of our community, silently suffering, and often just one emergency away from being houseless.
The Giving Plate operates on the preventative side of homelessness, providing a way for people to pay their bills rather than spending money on groceries.
When hunger needs are met, and people are filled with hope, the entire region flourishes.
By investing in our community, you help remove stigma and foster hope, empowering individuals and families to reimagine their futures.
Fight Hunger
•
Feed Hope
•
Fight Hunger • Feed Hope •
Our MISSION is about MORE than just food.
It’s about TRANSFORMING LIVES.
We meet each person at The Giving Plate with care, dignity, and respect.
Learn More about Us
Founded in 2010 by a family with a simple mission - ”Feeding the hungry today with compassion and hospitality” - we’ve grown into a community pillar, now serving over 1,600 families each month with a week’s worth of groceries.
Volunteer with The Giving Plate
We are looking for more on-call volunteers to help out at our Community Store! By donating your time and energy, you help create an environment where dignity, respect, and hope flourish.
Check out what’s on the horizon for The Giving Plate and see how you can get involved!
Upcoming Events + Fundraisers
THANK YOU to our 2023 Hunger Heroes
