Salem ice cream shop feeds community as SNAP payments lapse
General manager Jennifer Hayward arrived at On Any Sundae Thursday morning to find a line of over 20 people at the door.
It was well before the south Salem ice cream shop’s scheduled opening at noon.
But they weren’t there for ice cream.
They were there to patronize the store’s miniature food pantry – a single dining table stacked with rice, condiments, baking ingredients, baby formula and towers of cans. Most were coming by to pick up food, while some were there to donate.
Caleb Hayward, the store’s owner, had the idea for the food table after reading an article about federal food assistance payments being paused for November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Tens of thousands of Salem-area families rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to pay for groceries.
Hayward has owned On Any Sundae at 3987 Commercial St. S.E. since 2018. His sister, Jennifer, manages the store. They serve hand-scooped ice cream, soft serve, pineapple sorbet, ice cream lasagna, shave ice and homemade choco tacos.
“When I saw that (SNAP) was going away, at least for now, that was pretty heartbreaking … the thought that there could be even more hungry kids (was) pretty heartbreaking,” he said.
The issue hits close to home, as Hayward’s own family relied on government assistance for food during his childhood. Back then, the program was known as food stamps.
“I don’t think there was a time that I lived under my parents’ roof that we weren’t on some sort of public assistance … we were always in need,” he said.
Hayward, 48, grew up around central Oregon and Alaska, moving often with his dad’s work as a logger and diesel mechanic. His mom, Jessie Hunt, was a full-time student for a while, and occasionally took on entrepreneurial ventures.
In Ketchikan, Alaska in the 1980s, Hunt bought an old carpet van to convert into an ice cream truck, painting it red with a clown face on the side, naming the business “Smiley’s.”
Hayward has fond memories of riding around with her and helping hand out ice cream from the freezer.
He took after his mother’s footsteps in 2017, when he opened the On Any Sundae ice cream truck, staffed by himself. He founded the South Commercial store a year later.
Hayward pitched in nearly $300 of his own funds to fill the table on Sunday. He went to WinCo and bought foods like cereals, instant oatmeal, tortillas, stuffing, pasta, spaghetti, rice, and canned goods like chicken breast, beans, marinara sauce and vegetables.
Since then, the community has continued to add to the table through food donations. The shop has also received monetary donations they plan to put toward further stocking the table.
“I’m not surprised by the generosity, because we wouldn’t be where we’re at right now without the way people have stepped up to support us and keep us around the community,” Hayward said.
People can pick up or drop off food at the table any time during the store’s open hours, from noon to 9 p.m. daily. They are accepting nonperishable goods like canned vegetables and meats, cereals, grains, pasta and baby formula.
Anyone can come by the store and take what they need, without having to talk with staff or make a purchase.
“Even though we’re a … for-profit business, there’s nothing about this for profit. This is strictly for need, for help,” Hayward said. “If you need it, come and grab it off the table. It’s that easy.”
The shop has other charitable events throughout the year, like toy drives for Christmas and free sundaes on Easter morning. Hayward plans to keep the food table going through the end of the year, and hopes to host a couple of free Sunday pancake breakfasts before then.
Other Salem businesses are also hosting food drives. Indigo Wellness Center, at 320 Liberty St. S.E., will have a food drive starting Tuesday, Nov. 4, until Jan. 2, taking donations any time during open hours. Lively Station, 3635 River Rd. S., is also collecting donations for the Marion Polk Food Share.
Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .
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Hailey Cook covers healthcare for Salem Reporter, from the city’s only hospital to local outlooks on health insurance coverage. She joined the newsroom in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She also works as a photojournalist, capturing community events, government meetings and other gatherings.
