Everyone Welcome. Everyone Fed.

Every month of the year, hundreds of Family Kitchen volunteers come into a small soup kitchen in Bend to – wash dishes and cook meals for strangers, FOR FREE. They don’t get paid, and they don’t always get thanked, yet they keep showing up, week after week, through freezing temperatures and smokey skies to help families and individuals they have never met before. Because of their sacrifice, we have been able to serve over 130,000 meals for free in the first 10 months of 2025.

For the past 40 years, Family Kitchen has served as a local nonprofit with a single goal in mind: serve free, delicious, and nutritious meals to anyone in need, no questions asked. Our doors are open to all, and no matter your story, you’ll find a warm meal and a welcoming place at our table.

Every single day, our amazing team brings life, kindness, and community to the kitchen. Whether they’re chopping vegetables, serving meals, or simply sitting and sharing a conversation, our volunteers are the core of Family Kitchen. Their presence helps create a space of dignity, safety, and community — something especially vital for those dealing with daily, systemic traumas and harsh weather.

More than ever, people from all walks of life are coming through our doors. As the cost of food continues to rise, so do the number of neighbors in Central Oregon who rely on Family Kitchen for a warm, nutritious meal. Every day, we see more families, seniors, and individuals walking through our doors seeking not just food, but kindness and support during difficult times. 32% of our neighbors in Deschutes County face financial hardship. The ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report from 2023 showed that one in three households here in Central Oregon are forced to make impossible choices — like deciding whether to buy food or fill a prescription. Additionally, a 2025 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that from June 2024 to June 2025, groceries got more expensive in every category tracked: “meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose in price by 5.6% (egg prices alone rose 27.3%); nonalcoholic beverages are 4.4% more expensive; fruits and vegetables rose in price by 0.7%; and both cereals and bakery products and the index for dairy products rose 0.9%.” A recent poll done by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that more people were concerned about grocery prices than any other financial concern brought up in the poll, and almost 90% of American adults admitted to being “stressed out” by grocery prices.

As winter approaches, we urgently need donations and volunteers to meet the growing demand for food. Will you take action in the fight against hunger by making a donation to Family Kitchen? We have 20 volunteer spots every day, 7 days a week — from cooking and cleaning to meal delivery. Your time or support goes directly to feeding our neighbors and keeping our doors open. This is more than a meal. It’s a community — one built on compassion, respect, and the belief that everyone deserves to be fed and safe.

Together, we can make Central Oregon a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone is fed. Find local schedules for Family Kitchen meals here. For the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, Family Kitchen will be serving a festive meal at their Bend location (231 NW Idaho Ave.) on Thursday, November 27^thfrom 4:30pm – 6:00pm.