Claire Elmer
(Update: adding video, interviews with recipients and DCSO deputy)
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office employees spent the weekend delivering Thanksgiving meals to some of Central Oregon’s most vulnerable residents, aiming to ease food insecurity and isolation ahead of the holiday.
The effort comes on the heels of the recent federal government shutdown, which created uncertainty and delays around SNAP food benefits for many low-income families and seniors.
Members of the Deschutes County Sheriff Employee Association packed boxes filled with traditional Thanksgiving dinner items, then joined deputies to personally deliver them to households across rural Deschutes County.
The association said the goal is to bring holiday dinners directly to people who may struggle to shop, travel, or afford a full meal. They were able to provide 35 boxes this year, with some added help from donations by Local Acres Marketplace.
Deputies went door-to-door, dropping off boxes to seniors and others in need who said the assistance makes a real difference. Residents described the visit as not just a food delivery, but a welcome reminder that their community has not forgotten them during a stressful season.
The visit meant a great deal to Redmond resident Helen Baron, especially now that she doesn’t get out as much as she used to. “I just think it’s really nice. I’m really very thankful for them,” Baron said.
For seniors living on limited income, the holidays can amplify financial strain and loneliness, and a ready-to-cook Thanksgiving box can help ease both.
Another Redmond resident, James “Dutch” Mook, said it has become harder to make ends meet and that receiving a free holiday meal felt ‘amazing’. “I think it’s beautiful. I mean, how many times do you get something free? It doesn’t happen very often,” Mook emphasized.
This year’s deliveries were shaped in part by the fallout from the federal shutdown that began October 1 and temporarily disrupted SNAP benefit distributions for millions of Americans. While benefits are resuming after the shutdown ended on November 12, some households have faced delays, partial payments or confusion about what will arrive and when.
Sheriff’s office employees said they wanted to step in locally as families and seniors worried about whether holiday food budgets would stretch far enough. By providing full Thanksgiving dinner kits, they hoped to ease that uncertainty, at least for this week.
Deputy Danny Graham, who helped with the deliveries, said the outreach is especially important in rural senior communities, where many people live on fixed incomes and holiday meals can be difficult to afford or prepare.
“This senior community out here, a lot of folks are on fixed incomes, and meals can be difficult to provide for the holidays,” Graham said.
Graham said efforts like this reflect a broader commitment to serve in ways that go beyond traditional law enforcement, focusing on care and connection as well as public safety. “We’re just not out enforcing laws, but we’re taking care of our community in other ways as well,” he added.
The sheriff’s office has highlighted community programs as part of its mission, from seasonal outreach to youth and families to safety initiatives across the county’s 3,055 square miles. Deputies on this weekend’s route said they hope the Thanksgiving deliveries bring a bit of comfort and a sense of togetherness to the people they serve.
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