Bend Stands Together
In the days after the tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary School, thousands of people gathered in Drake Park with candles in hand. Many of them had never met, yet they stood side by side, grieving together for the students, teachers, and families whose lives were changed forever.
That image has stayed with our team. We spend our days helping people find the perfect home, but the quiet truth is that home is so often defined by the people around it: the neighbor who waves from the driveway, the barista who remembers your order, and the teacher who knows your child by name. This past week, Bend showed just how deep those connections run.
Support arrived in practical ways, like free meals handed across restaurant counters for families who needed one less thing to worry about, and local businesses setting aside space where kids could simply be kids. Fundraisers for the families were shared again and again. At the school, students left cards, flowers, and stuffed animals, and one morning, the Centennial Logger in the roundabout appeared as an angel, a quiet gesture that stopped many of us in our tracks.
The weeks ahead will be hardest for the families most affected, and the care this community has shown will matter long after the candles are put away. If you are able, keep checking in on neighbors, especially families with young children, continue supporting the local businesses that gave so generously, and look to verified community channels for ways to help the affected families directly.
To the Silver Rail families, teachers, and staff, and to the first responders who answered the call, please know you are not carrying this alone. We are proud to call Bend home, grateful to share it with all of you, and committed to supporting this community as we heal.
With care,
Your PPG Bend Team
