Bend Witches Paddle this Saturday will support local families after school shooting

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- MountainStar Family Relief Nursery will host the 6th Annual Bend Witches Paddle this Saturday, Oct. 31, at Riverbend Park in Bend. The free community gathering runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and aims to offer connection and support as Central Oregon mourns a recent tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School.

The annual event takes place in partnership with the Old Mill District's Halloween Trick-or-Treat festivities. Participants are invited to wear witch costume attire and float on paddleboards along the river, while spectators can watch from the shore. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to bring donations of diapers and baby wipes to assist local families enrolled in MountainStar programs.

MountainStar Executive Director Kara Tachikawa emphasized the importance of community support following the Silver Rail Elementary School shooting. “Our hearts are heavy as we grieve alongside our Central Oregon community,” Tachikawa said. “There are no easy words in moments like these. What we do know is that connection, compassion and community matter deeply. We hope the Witches Paddle can provide a space for people to come together, find comfort in one another and be reminded of the strength and care that surrounds us.”

In addition to the event, MountainStar is hosting the Comfort & Calm Community Care Project throughout October in honor of the organization's 25th anniversary. The initiative gathers items to support young children during times of stress. Donated items requested include children's books, cozy blankets, pajamas, new stuffed animals and sensory items such as play dough, fidgets, soft lighting and puzzles.

Donations for the care project can be dropped off at MountainStar facilities in La Pine, Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville. Tachikawa explained that providing comforting items helps create stability for families facing hardship. “Children thrive when they feel safe, loved and connected,” Tachikawa said. “At MountainStar, that belief guides our work every day. Through this month's Community Care Project, we're inviting our neighbors to help create small but meaningful moments of comfort for children and families who may be navigating significant stress.”

The 6th Annual Bend Witches Paddle will take place this Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Riverbend Park. Donations of diapers, baby wipes and Comfort & Calm project items will be accepted at MountainStar locations through the end of October.