C.O. food kitchens getting ready for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and Central Oregon food kitchens are gearing up to serve meals to those in need.

The La Pine Community Kitchen is preparing for their Thanksgiving meal, which will be served on Wednesday.

The kitchen’s executive director, Stacie Durhak, said Monday they a’re expecting between 200 and 300 people for their Thanksgiving meal.

She also said she’s always amazed by how this community is able to come together and provide for those that need a little extra help.

“Deschutes County, Klamath County, we are all a giving area here in Central Oregon,” Durhak said. “I’ve given myself, but to some into this environment, to see familiar faces and see them giving, not just here at the kitchen, but giving all over this community, it is overwhelming, and I am honored. I’m honored to be a part of this.”

The La Pine Community Kitchen also serves hot lunches year-round, five days a week.

Durhak added that the kitchen has about 16 new volunteers who are set to serve the Thanksgiving meal.

And all of the food is ready to go for the meal, so now they can start to turn their attention to Christmas, to get food for that meal.

The Bend Family Kitchen has been a part of the community for the past 32 years.

The organization is anticipating about 250 people on Thanksgiving when they open their doors from 2-4:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to program Director Donna Burklow, they have seen about a 13 percent increase in those who come to the kitchen regularly this year.

She added that it is more then just serving a meal, it’s a community that supports one an other.

“They come to community kitchen also to check in with each other and have that community feel, and be able to talk to each other and be with each other in a warm, safe space,” Burklow said. “So much more important at the holidays to have that ability to know that a place that you are comfortable in, that you have been in, that’s also going to be festive and serve you a traditional holiday meal, I think that it’s just super important to make sure that’s available to all.”

The Bend Family Kitchen serves eight meals a week, all year long. And it’s expecting to have about 30 new volunteers to help them serve the Thanksgiving meal this year.

You can find more information about the La Pine Community Kitchen and the Bend Family Kitchen on their websites.