The La Pine Community Kitchen recently finished our eighth year of operation and there are those who still do not know of the Kitchen or what we are about. Following is a synopsis of what the Community Kitchen is, the services we provide, and what we have done in the last eight years.

Background & History

In our first year, we served 11,929 meals and distributed 24 food boxes; in 2003, 12,784 meals and 340 food boxes; in 2004, 13,195 meals and 912 food boxes; in 2005, 3,010 meals and 1,007 food boxes; in 2006 13,216 meals and 1,406 food boxes; in 2007, 10,665 meals (Kitchen was closed two months for remodeling) and 2,075 food boxes.  Finally, in 2008, we served 13,772 meals and distributed 2,804 food boxes.  In 2007 the Kitchen added the produce area, a pet food service and clothing and hygiene items at the Kitchen’s Clothes Closet.
In September 2007, we began the construction and renovation of the La Pine Community Kitchen.  We started Phase I by moving the current building off its foundation to pour a new foundation for the current building and the new extension.  Heading up our building project was Bill Benson, serving as Project Manager, and Chris Arsehault of Arsehault Construction in Tumalo, serving as our General Contractor.  Joining them were a number of volunteer construction people providing the labor and some of the materials.  In September of 2007, the Kitchen submitted a grant bid for the old Knott Landfill building and won that bid.  In August 2008, we received the building. Working with Acu-Set of Portland and Deschutes County, Sunwest Redi-Mix and Dave’s Concrete Pumping, and with Ron Miller serving as Project Manager, the modular building was set behind the current building. 

The Kitchen has begun our next steps in our construction project which will connect and remodel both buildings, and we will  put  in a new parking lot and landscaping.  We still need donations of building supplies, cash and help with the labor. If you can help,  please give us a call at 541-536-1312, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Change Comes to the Kitchen

This past year brought changes to the Community Kitchen in the form of a new Board of Directors, a restructuring of procedures and operations, and a new focus on funding and service.  With these new initiatives, our hope is for a Community Kitchen that will continue to meet the ever-growing demands on our services.