Fill Your Pantry is a community bulk-buying farmers market held annually in the fall at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The event typically accepts SNAP benefits for payment, but with the current funding freeze, Central Oregonians haven’t received their benefits for November. Kristin Points - Executive Director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance - talks about the current Fill All Pantries fundraiser that was started as a response to the SNAP benefits freeze.
Visibility is Civic Duty with Mila Shelehoff, Yuliia Hryhorenko, Olena Vasylenko, and Anna Donoghue
Yuliia Hryhorenko and Olena Vasylenko relocated their families to Central Oregon two years ago so that their children could be safe from war. They moved here through Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), a US government humanitarian parole program that allowed private US citizens to sponsor and help support Ukrainian refugees.
They are joined by Mila Shelehoff, Executive Director of Art Sprouts and Founder of Bend For Ukraine, a community initiative supporting Ukrainian families resettling in Central Oregon. Anna Donoghue also joins as translator.
Mila Shelehoff’s article The Quiet Trail: Oregon’s Hidden Humanitarian Crisis and information about upcoming events can be found at artsprouts.org
Welcoming Week's Culture Jam
September 12th through 21st is the eighth annual celebration of Welcoming Week in Bend. Numerous community partners make Welcoming Week happen. Gillian talked to three of those partners about this Saturday’s event, Culture Jam.
Wesley Heredia is Program Manager at Vámonos Outside. vamonosoutside.org
Kenneth Adams is the Executive Director of The Father’s Group. thefathersgroup.org
huong tran is the Executive Director of Embrace Bend and co-founder of APIC - Asian and Pacific Islanders Collective. www.embracebend.com/apic-
Culture Jam is Saturday September 13th, Noon to 7pm, at Open Space Event Studios in Bend.
huong tran is facilitating the Welcoming Week event Designing Matrilineal Systems Sunday Sept 21st, 2pm the East Bend Library.
You can learn more about all Welcoming Week Events at bendoregon.gov.
OSU Extension Service - Canning Tips and Trends
Glenda Hyde, Associate Professor of Practice with the OSU Extension Service, talks about the most requested topics from the 2025 Deschutes County Fair - Tips and Trends for preserving foods. www.Extension.OregonState.edu
The Art Detectives Club for Kids with Bob Newhart and Wyndee King
Bob Newhart is the July Artist in Residence at the Bend Visitor Center. Gillian talked to Bob and Wyndee King about the upcoming July 11th Artwalk and the debut of the Art Detectives Club for kids, as well as their advice for unleashing creativity and how to get kids involved with art. You can learn more about Bob’s art at newhartist.com.
The Council on Aging of Central Oregon Turns 50
The Council on Aging of Central Oregon is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on June 26th. Gillian talked to Executive Director Cassie Regimbal about the celebration as well as the critical services the council provides to Central Oregon’s aging population.
Summer Food Safety and Staying Hydrated with Katie Ahern and Stephanie Russell on The OSU Extension Connection
OSU Extension Connection is a conversation with staff from the OSU Extension Service about the educational programs and research-based information that Extension provides to Central Oregon. Gillian talked to Family and Community Health Senior Instructors Stephanie Russell and Katie Ahern about summer food safety and staying hydrated. Stephanie Russell is on the SNAP-Ed State Leadership Team for Programs and Training and Katie Ahern is SNAP-Ed Deschutes County Manager. Their website - foodhero.org - has a wealth of information about food safety, health, and cooking with kids.
City Club's Conversation on Food Insecurity with Alayne Fardella
Food insecurity is a growing crisis in Central Oregon. In just six years, the need for emergency food distribution has tripled — a stark indicator of deepening challenges for local families, children, and seniors. The June 25th City Club of Central Oregon forum "Together at the Table: A Community Conversation on Food Insecurity" will explore the scope and impact of food insecurity in our region. Gillian talked to City Club Board Member Alayne Fardella about the forum. More information at cityclubco.org.
Sandra Lindsay on Be and Belong, An Open Meeting for Suicide Prevention and Support
Sandra Lindsay is the founder of Be and Belong, an open meeting providing community support for those who are struggling with suicide, who know someone that is struggling, or who have lost someone to suicide.
Caring for Drought-Stressed Trees with Jenna Deibel on The OSU Extension Connection
OSU Extension Forester Jenna Deibel talks about how to identify when our native trees are stressed and how to help them. She discusses the typical signs of drought stress and gives some insight into how juniper has spread across Central Oregon.
Electrification with Neil Baunsgard from The Environmental Center
Neil Baunsgard is Climate and Transportation Policy Manager at The Environmental Center. He visits The Point to talk about electrification - the effort to replace technologies and appliances that currently use fossil fuels with electric alternatives - and how the City of Bend is trying to reduce fossil fuel use in its buildings.
Recycling with Kavi Chokshi from The Environmental Center
Kavi Chokshi is the Rethink Waste Program Manager for The Environmental Center in Bend. He talked about America Recycles Day, how recycling is done in Central Oregon, and how reducing and reusing can help reduce waste overall.
HumanHub with huong tran from Embrace Bend and Matt Muchna from Envision Bend
huong tran from Embrace Bend and Matt Muchna from Envision Bend talk about HumanHub - a collaboration of the two organizations. They also provide details about the Community Belonging Conversation event on September 26th. More information at www.facebook.com/embracebendpage and www.envisionbend.org.
Welcoming Week with Priscilla Calleros from The Environmental Center
Priscilla Calleros - Outreach and Events Manager at The Environmental Center - talks about the organization's events for Bend's Welcoming Week and Latino Conservation Week, and also discusses the building of inclusivity in the environmental movement. She also provides some updates on the September 28th Green Building Tour. More information at www.envirocenter.org.
Mark Ransom on the 2024 Bend Roots Revival
David Miller and Mark Ransom talk about the history of Bend Roots Revival and what's in store for this year, September 13-15. Bend Roots Revival is a free, three-day music festival, celebration of Central Oregon’s local music scene, and a fundraiser for music education.
More info about Bend Roots Revival and the festival schedule can be found at bendroots.net.
The Environmental Center's Community Innovation Fund and Climate Movement Challenge with Kavi Chokshi and Al Kolenda
The non-profit The Environmental Center seeks to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. On this episode, Kavi Chokshi, Rethink Waste Project Project Coordinator, discusses The Environmental Center’s Community Innovation Fund grants, which provide funding for individuals, businesses, or community groups for projects that reduce waste in Deschutes County. Development Manager Al Kolenda also joined us to talk about the Climate Movement Challenge, a fundraising campaign to get people to get active and move outdoors this summer while also raising money for The Environmental Center.
Stacy Koff from 4 Peaks Music Festival
Stacy Koff, owner and promoter of 4 Peaks Music Festival, talks about creating a space for kids at a festival and the many different genres that make up the 4 Peaks sound. 4 Peaks is June 20-23 at Stevenson Ranch in Bend, OR. More info and tickets at 4peaksmusic.com.
Food Hero and More with Katie Ahern on the OSU Extension Connection
Katie Ahern from the OSU Extension Service talks about Food Hero and other family and community health programs for Deschutes and Crook Counties.
Gardening with Amy Jo Dettweiler on the OSU Extension Connection
Amy Jo Dettweiler is an OSU Professor and the Extension Horticulturist for the OSU Extension Service serving Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties. She talks about the unique challenges of gardening in Central Oregon
Earth Day 2024 with The Environmental Center
Priscilla Calleros from The Environmental Center and poster artist Sage Flannery share plans for the Earth Day celebration on Saturday April 20, 2024.