Bend FC offers free weeklong soccer day camp; over 200 kids signed up, donations sought

BEND, Ore. -- The Bend FC youth soccer club is offering a free weeklong day camp in the wake of last week's tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary School. And while they said Sunday they had reached capacity for Monday and Tuesday, when all schools are closed, the camp will continue through Friday for Silver Rail students and families.

"We have also reached max capacity for volunteers for Monday and Tuesday," the club said in Sunday's update on its Facebook page. "We may have needs for Wednesday through Friday and will let you know."

"THANK YOU COMMUNITY!"

Registration and details are available at https://www.bendfctimbers.com/free-community-camp.

Here's the message sent by a Bend FC board member to the business community:

I'm reaching out to fellow businesses in our community with a request I wish we never had to make.  Like so many of you, I've spent the last few days trying to process the heartbreaking tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary School. As a Bend resident, a parent with children in our schools, and someone involved with Bend FC, this one hits incredibly close to home.  Our community is hurting. Families are grieving. Parents are trying to figure out how to return to work while schools are closed. And hundreds of kids are trying to make sense of something no child should ever have to experience.

We can't undo what happened. But we can do something about what happens next.

Starting Monday, Bend FC is opening its doors to provide a completely FREE, weeklong day camp for children affected by this tragedy and other Bend kids who need a safe, positive place to spend their days.   We have over 200 kids registered already and need your help!!!

Here's what we're doing:

• When: Monday–Friday, October 19–23, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Cost: Absolutely FREE for every family.
• What: Five days of soccer, activities, friendship, and an opportunity for kids to just be kids.
• Why: To give children a safe, supportive environment while giving parents some much-needed peace of mind and the ability to return to work.

Our Bend FC staff is stepping up to make this happen. Now we're asking our local business community to help us take care of the rest.

HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELP

Whether you've supported Bend FC before or have never heard from us, there's a place for you in this effort.

1. Make a donation:  Any amount helps provide meals, snacks, drinks, and camp supplies. No donation is too small.
2. Donate food or supplies:  Individually packaged snacks, lunches, bottled water, sports drinks, soccer equipment, activity supplies, or other useful resources would be greatly appreciated.
3. Volunteer or offer your services:  If your business has people, equipment, or services that could help us pull this together, we'd love to hear from you.
4. Help spread the word:  Share our fundraiser with your employees, customers, friends, and fellow business owners. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is help us reach the next person willing to help.

DONATE OR GET INVOLVED HERE:  https://onecau.se/bendtogether

And here's something important: Any funds raised beyond what's needed to operate the camp will be donated to the school and families affected by this tragedy.

If your business would prefer to contribute food, supplies, or services directly, please contact Jessica Passage at jessica.passage@bendfctimbers.com so we can coordinate what's needed. For safety, all donated food and beverages must be commercially packaged, and we ask that donations be arranged before delivery.

I've also attached a flyer and social media graphics with a QR code to our donation page. Please feel free to print them, post them, and share them with anyone who might want to help.

Bend has always been the kind of community that shows up for its neighbors. Right now, our youngest neighbors need us more than ever.

I also want to recognize the many businesses and individuals who have already stepped up to support the families, the school, and our community. Your generosity matters, and it hasn't gone unnoticed.  There isn't a donation large enough to fix what happened this week. There aren't words that will make this better.  But if we can give these kids five days of laughter, friendship, soccer, activities, and a little bit of normalcy, while giving their parents one less thing to worry about, that's something worth coming together for.

Thank you for being part of the Bend community. Let's take care of our kids.

With gratitude,

James Traynor

Board Member

Bend FC