COMMUNITY

Yum Yum Teriyaki gives free meals for kids this Halloween

Many organizations and restaurants give out free meals during the holidays to give back – but Halloween doesn’t usually make the cut. 

Next week, Yum Yum Teriyaki in Salem will change that by giving away free meals for children age 12 and under to celebrate and spread community support. 

“I personally like Halloween, so I just felt that no one ever does anything for Halloween,” said owner Jonathan Castro Monroy. “Also that restaurant is right on the edge of Salem and Keizer, and a lot of the demographic there are low socioeconomic households. So we just said hey, why not add some fun? How about we just pay for free kids meals on Halloween day, just really to give back to the people there.’” 

Castro Monroy owns multiple businesses in town, including Castro Monroy Group which provides financial planning services. 

This is the first time the restaurant is providing the free Halloween dinner since he bought it about a year ago.

“I have great memories growing up around Halloween,” Castro Monroy said. 

So, he decided to pay for the kids’ meals completely out of his own pocket in hopes it will help create a happy memory for those families that come by. 

The event will be from 5-7 p.m. before people usually go out trick or treating, so Castro Monroy hopes the staff will be graced with the sight of a lot of fun costumes and characters coming in to eat. He also hopes that they will be able to reach those families who could really use the support of a free meal for their kids.

Yum Yum Teriyaki will serve the first 100 kids that come to their location at 2927 Broadway St. N.E. for free, with or without a costume.

Contact Reporter Jordyn Brown at [email protected]

JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter. Click I want to subscribe!

Jordyn Brown is an Oregon journalist who formerly worked for the Eugene Register-Guard.