Snack Attack

In partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette, Salem Leadership Foundation and Salem First Church of the Nazarene, we provided 175 Subway vouchers and $25,000 worth of food snacks to 55 school sites in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

One of our community partners, Community Business and Educational Leaders (CBEL), supports the Cornerstone Learning Center. The learning center is set up to assist students with their virtual school lessons. The Cornerstone Learning Center, which opened October 2020, was the idea of Community Resource Trust Chair, retired Supreme Court Justice Paul DeMuniz.

The ALS-K Operation School Bell (OSB) coordinated with CBEL to arrange distribution of fruit and vegetables snacks, and literacy materials for the students and families on February 25th. The Chair of our childhood literacy program, R.E.A.D, collaborated with the Salem Public Library to organize distribution of the Library’s Books 4 Kids backpacks with age appropriate books and literacy activities. The Library provided backpacks and literacy materials through a grant they received to distribute literacy kits, and the ALS-K Auxiliary contributed school supplies. ALS-K purchased fruits and vegetables snacks from a generous donation by Goodwill Industries designated for OSB to provide food to those in need. Judy Martin, ALS-K President, emphasized, “We are proud of the many partners who joined our effort to provide “Food for the Body and Mind.”

Assistance League of Salem-Keizer Action Week

The Assistance League of Salem-Keizer (ALS-K) celebrated Anne Banning, the National Founder of Assistance League, on her February 25th birthday. Action Week, February 22nd- 26th, was an Assistance League nationwide event sponsored by the volunteer organization. Chapters worked together to make a difference in individual communities.

ALS-K member volunteers chose a theme of “Food for the Body and Mind.”

ALS-K members provided fruits and vegetables, and literacy materials for students attending a learning center serving Salem-Keizer Public School elementary students living at the Cornerstone Apartments. This low-income project was developed by Community Resource Trust, Salem.

Operation School Bell

The Assistance League’s Operation School Bell (OSB) philanthropic program presented ten $100 grocery gift cards to both principals and Community Schools Outreach Coordinators at Auburn and Hallman Elementary Schools. The presentation was made by the ALS-K President-Elect, Toni Phipps and the OSB Chair, Charlotte Rieder-

Bolton. The school principals will identify the families and will meet them at a store to help pay for their shopping. The source of these funds is part of a gift received from Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette. 

Fifty $100 grocery cards were also presented to the Salem-Keizer Public Schools McKinney-Vento Homeless Program to take families of homeless students shopping for groceries. The OSB Chair, Charlotte Rieder-Bolton reports that remaining funds from the Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette will be distributed by the end of the school year. Operation School Bell wishes to thank Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette for its contribution to the students of our community.

Project R.E.A.D.
(Read, Enjoy, Achieve, Develop)

Watershed,Inc donation to Operation School Bell

Salem-Keizer Assistance League’s philanthropic program, Operation School Bell®, received 300 colorful nylon bags from Watershed, Inc. The bags will be used to pack the clothes and shoes requested by counselors for elementary students. The packed nylon bags will be sent in the white trash bags to the schools. Students will then be given the clothes packed in the nylon bags to take home. This is an improvement over having to carry the new clothes in trash bags. Operation School Bell® would like to thank Watershed, Inc. for this wonderful donation.

         Thank you, Sodexo!

 We are forever grateful to Sodexo food services for their many years of outstanding contributions to our annual Lasagna Lunch Fundraiser. Generously supplying all the freshly made lasagna, salad, breadsticks and more, Sodexo ensured that this event quickly became a cherished community tradition.

Delores Tesky, Sodexo’s Regional Executive Chef, met with us each year to share her catering expertise and guidance. While unfortunately the 2021 event had to be canceled, Sodexo was a willing partner to the end. Without their incredible and generous support, including their employees’ time and use of their food preparation facility, our annual Lasagna Lunch Fundraiser would not have been the financial success it was. As Sodexo has demonstrated over many years, it’s all about helping the children. Thank you!

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