Debra Kelso, co-founder with husband Gary of The Giving Plate Community Food Relief Outreach in Bend, has written a book about her life, "If These Scars Could Sing.,," a hopeful tale of how she overcame trauma to find her calling.

The food relief organization says it expected about a 10% increase, however that number has reached 40% over the summer - which happens to be the time of year when the Giving Plate shows low donation rates. 

Donations are down 7% for this time of the year, according to executive director, Ranae Staley. 

The Giving Plate has seen a 40% increase in the number of families requesting food assistance since opening its community store in Bend last spring.

This morning, we had the pleasure of being on KPOV’s The Point with Malcolm McRae, sharing exciting updates about our Community Store, Distribution Center, and the incredible growth we've experienced since opening these new models.

After eleven years of serving the Central Oregon community, on August 17, 2021, The Giving Plate closed on a loan and now owns its very first building!

Executive Director of The Giving Plate, Ranae Staley, speaks with Dave Clemens about Jingle Christmas events.

In celebration of Central Oregon World Food Day, Ranae Staley, Executive Director of The Giving Plate, is interviewed by Dave Clemens. Many think of food insecurity and think of those that are houseless and on the street. However, 90% of those we serve are housed neighbors in need.

Dave Clemens interviews Ranae Staley, Executive Director of The Giving Plate about the upcoming Red Carpet Gala fundraiser.

Executive Director of The Giving Plate, Ranae Staley, speaks about the upcoming fundraiser, along with the back story of the organization. From our Grocery Program, to Kid’s Korner Market, to Backpacks for Bend, The Giving Plate provides food for 3,500 individuals per month.

The Central Oregon Gives campaign, an annual effort to consolidate resources and offer nonprofits an online vehicle for end-of-year donation campaigns—as well as giving donors great perks—helped local nonprofits raise more than $660,000 in total funds.

“The organization is teaming up with members of the community to ensure nobody goes without a meal this holiday season.

For the past two weeks, cars have been lined up around The Giving Plate's building to pick up donated meals.

Executive Director Ranae Staley calls it more than just a food donation.”

Listen in to a radio spot from Inside Central Oregon, featuring Ranae Staley.

“Bend photographer Megan Baker reached out to a few families and small businesses to see how coronavirus pandemic is affecting their lives, sharing a little bit from each session she's done. She will continue to safely document a small amount of these sessions moving forward, so feel free to send her an email.”

“The Bend Foundation is donating immediate grants totaling $100,000 to 10 key safety net and social service nonprofit organizations in Central Oregon.

Last week, the Bend Foundation trustees held a special meeting to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community. They concluded to grant specific organizations $10,000 each to help them provide essential services.”

"The PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement recently committed $605k in grant funding to support nine nonprofit organizations based in Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.

‘Working in partnership to improve community health is a shared mission of PacificSource and our Foundation, and we are pleased to announce this latest round of funding to these deserving nonprofits,’ said Marian Blankenship, executive director of PacificSource’s Foundation for Health Improvement.”

Five-year-old Bend, Oregon boy hikes South Sisters to feed hungry children in his community in August 2019 and raises $2,229 and feeds 1,115 children through The Giving Plate’s Backpacks for Bend program.