Our Mission The monthly Bethlehem Inn dinner supports members of our community in one of our basic human needs. We live the first two principles of UU, honoring the dignity of others with compassion and understanding.

Our Work With the involvement of 20-26 UUFCO volunteers, we prepare and serve a home cooked meal each month at Central Oregon’s homeless shelter, Bethlehem Inn. In addition to the delivery of a dinner, our connections are also smiles, laughter and conversation.

Our History and Impact Preparing and serving a monthly dinner on the fourth Thursday at Bethlehem Inn is UUFCO’s longest serving community outreach program. In 2008, the first winter Bethlehem Inn shelter moved into the double decker motel on Business 97, the area churches were invited to sign up to each prepare and serve a week of meals at Bethlehem Inn. What evolved from that week is now a monthly dinner. From the original small kitchenette and two subsequent temporary kitchens, our dinners are now served from a commercial kitchen where volunteers deliver their component of the same meal we’ve been serving since 2008. Our traditional meal of turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, cupcakes, and milk is looked forward to by residents during their sheltered stay. The impact of over ten thousand meals goes beyond the physical nature of our ongoing program. We assist Bethlehem Inn staff in lifting a significant responsibility and financial load from their shoulders. Our volunteers are forever changed as we witness the hardship of our neighbors and discover a way to make a difference.