Our Mission
Feeding the hungry today with compassion and hospitality.
Our Vision
To end hunger by reimagining what food relief looks like, creating a place where guests feel seen and cared for. A community that affirms every person’s inherent worth and dignity.
How We Live Our Mission
At The Giving Plate, our mission of “Feeding the hungry today with compassion and hospitality” is more than just a statement; it’s a way of life that resonates with our deep-rooted values and guiding principles.
Though food is the service we provide, we exist to offer more than just food.
Our “why” is grounded in the core belief that every person deserves dignity, regardless of their circumstances, and nobody should bear the weight of hunger alone. This unwavering commitment to removing the shame surrounding accessing food and standing with our struggling neighbors in compassion and love propels our mission forward.
As a faith-founded nonprofit, our roots lie in the simple expression of love for our neighbors (John 13:35 & Matt. 22:36-40). While we’re not a religious organization and don’t intertwine religious beliefs with our services, our origin story remains an integral part of our foundation, shaping our growth.
We welcome everyone equally and work to create a space where all are seen and belong. This approach allows us to build genuine connections with those who seek our assistance. By adhering to Oregon Food Bank guidelines and partnering with NeighborImpact (Oregon Food Bank’s regional distribution center), we efficiently distribute nourishing food to those in need, supported by our local community and private grants.
In living out our mission, we embrace the vision of ending hunger by reimagining food relief. We strive to foster a community that recognizes every person’s inherent worth and dignity. Through our commitment to compassion, hospitality, and genuine care, we are not only fighting hunger; we nurture hope and cultivate a sense of belonging.
Because when hunger needs are met and people are filled with hope, the entire region flourishes. Families experience less stress, and children grow up without the burden of hunger, resulting in a stronger, more connected community. By addressing food insecurity and serving our neighbors in need, we help create a brighter future for Central Oregon.
What sets
us APART
The Giving Plate (TGP) provides over 1,600 families a month with a week's worth of groceries, equating to an average of 4,800 people. Since 2010, we have distributed over 7 million pounds of food in Central Oregon. We offer a warm, welcoming, and judgment-free space for our neighbors in need.
Family Founded
TGP is a grass-roots pantry founded by a family from Central Oregon. We are passionate about our community and want to make a difference in the lives of those we live next door to.
Flexible Hours
TGP serves families living all throughout Central Oregon and offers weekend hours to our working community members.
Food Pantry For Kids (Kid's Korner)
TGP is the only food pantry in Oregon that has a food pantry just for kids (Kid's Korner & Kid’s Korner Mobile Pantry). Between our four hunger-relief programs, children 18 and under make up over 65% of the individuals served.
Weekend Food Bags
TGP helps K-12 students in 33 Bend / La Pine schools with food for the weekend through Backpacks for Bend. This is the only program of its kind in the Bend / La Pine school district and ensures that no child has to experience a weekend of hunger.
Guest-Centric Store Model
TGP provides a welcoming Community Store environment so that each guest who visits feels valued and doesn't encounter the clinical stigma that is connected to many food pantry experiences.
Housed Guests
Over 90% of the guests that visit TGP do not qualify as houseless. They have homes and jobs - yet they are living paycheck to paycheck, doing their best to make ends meet.
Our Committment
As an organization, we are committed to ensuring that The Giving Plate is a safe place for anybody in the community to come and visit. Whether we are serving someone as a guest who is accessing our services or welcoming them as a volunteer or donor, we want each person who engages with The Giving Plate to feel seen and valued for who they are and where they are in life. We have zero tolerance for offensive, hateful, discriminatory content and actions. As an example, our volunteers come from various backgrounds and beliefs. We ask that while serving at The Giving Plate, any conversations that would be divisive would remain outside the doors of The Giving Plate so that while serving, we can be united in what we have in common - the mission of feeding anybody in need with compassion and hospitality.