As food costs continue to rise, hunger cannot be solved by any single person or organization acting alone. Many families face difficult choices each month: paying for groceries or filling a prescription; repairing a vehicle or covering utility bills; buying food or paying rent.
September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign raising awareness about hunger in America and encouraging people to take action. While hunger may seem like a distant problem to some, the reality is closer to home — here in Central Oregon, thousands of individuals and families struggle each day to put food on the table.
For many Central Oregon residents, Family Kitchen provides more than just a meal. For years known as The Red Door, the Family Kitchen team is committed to addressing that need three times a day to hundreds of hungry guests.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what your situation is,” said Executive Director Olivia Townsend Parker. “We will be there with a tasty, homemade meal. We’re just happy to be part of a community that takes care of one another.”
“Our mission is to uplift the community by serving nutritious meals to anyone in need with compassion and dignity,” said Townsend Parker. Founded in 1986, the organization was built on the idea that when money is tight, community members shouldn’t have to choose between meals and bills.
In the first seven months of 2026 alone, Family Kitchen distributed more than 140,000 meals to Central Oregon residents experiencing hunger and food insecurity — up roughly 55–60% in monthly volume compared to last year. Unlike many assistance programs, Family Kitchen operates with a simple promise: Anyone who walks through its doors will be fed.
The need is greatest among local laborers
The need is greater than many realize. According to the 2023 ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), 32% of Deschutes County households face financial hardship — nearly one in three struggling to afford necessities despite many adults working full-time. These are often the people who keep communities running every day: child care providers, food service workers, delivery drivers, cashiers and personal care aides whose incomes haven’t kept pace with the rising cost of living.
One diner described what sets the organization apart: “Family Kitchen is different from other places I go to get free meals. Here, it’s so welcoming, and the meals I get are like something my grandma would make me.” Another guest, who has experienced periods of homelessness over the past decade, said simply, “Red Door is the one place I know I can rely on.”
Real Stories of giving and receiving
Family Kitchen’s impact extends beyond food. Its dining rooms provide a welcoming place where neighbors gather, socialize and find support — made possible by staff and volunteers who donate their time to serve others. As one regular diner put it, “It’s a warm, welcoming place where anyone can come get a free hot meal seven days a week and is a safe place in our community.”
Volunteer Shannon Mara says helping others is one of the ways she finds hope and purpose during difficult times. “When you give back, it just brings so much peace and joy,” she said. “This ability to find usefulness is the glue that binds a community.”
Another familiar face is Wayne, a lifelong Central Oregon resident who spends much of his time connecting people with resources and information. While Wayne doesn’t rely on Family Kitchen for meals himself, he regularly attends lunch to socialize and help others navigate housing, health care and food assistance.
“I tell everyone I know and everyone I meet about Family Kitchen,” he said. Recently, Wayne has also become a regular volunteer. “I don’t like sitting around doing nothing. This is my way to help, to give back.”
That spirit of service reflects the broader message behind Hunger Action Month, whose 2026 campaign emphasizes that ending hunger requires many people working together — farmers, volunteers, advocates, donors, businesses and neighbors all playing a role. “Assembly is required” is one of this year’s themes, highlighting the idea that meaningful solutions are built when communities come together with purpose.
Whether through volunteering, donating, advocating or simply learning more, every action contributes to the larger effort. For Family Kitchen, that effort continues every day — one meal, one volunteer and one neighbor at a time. During Hunger Action Month, the organization hopes the community will recognize that hunger often exists quietly among friends, coworkers and neighbors, and that together, Central Oregonians can ensure no one has to face it alone.
For the past 40 years, Family Kitchen has operated out of the kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Bend, a long-standing supporter that provides shared space, volunteers and financial resources. Information is available at familykitchen.org.
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