Craft Time at the Salem Dream Center. (Courtesy/Salem Dream Center)
Salem Dream Center, a nonprofit located in west Salem, is continuing to work to support children and families despite the less-than-ideal circumstances. Since 2004, the organization has worked to help families overcome poverty by providing educational services, mentorship, and food.
Because so much of their work is done directly with students in need, Executive Director Craig Oviatt said the quarantine has truly affected the work of the Salem Dream Center. He says that in place of their after school tutoring and study programs, they are setting up Zoom Tutoring, which allows them to continue to educate children remotely.
They are also offering food boxes to families once a week. Those boxes are available from their community learning center. In addition, they are delivering food and hygiene items to homes in the Salem community throughout the week (as they are able). The center is also providing hygiene items and helping with laundry and other basic needs. Most importantly, they are conducting safety visits to ensure that at-risk families and persons are well.
The Salem Dream Center is also helping college students who don’t have the ability to “distance learn” because their families may live in small apartments or don’t have internet access. They have converted rooms in their Learning Center into separate, clean, work-study spaces that include computers, printers, and internet access.
Needs for the Salem Dream Center Right now:
Financial support to purchase food, toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes, and other items.
Food Items from Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores:
-50 pound bags of flour
-50 pound bags of corn mesa
-50 pound bags of dry pinto beans
-50 pound bags of rice
-15 dozen case large eggs
-gallon Ziplock bags
Smart Foodservice Warehouse: 1355 Salem Industrial Dr. N.E.
Smart Foodservice Warehouse: 1410 Barnes Ave. S.E.
Please email to arrange delivery of food items.
Mailing Address:
Salem Dream Center
PO Box 5976
Salem, OR 97304
Office Phone (971) 599-3166
Email [email protected]
After School Tutoring. Layne Tarabox working with students on math at the Salem Dream Center. (Courtesy/Salem Dream Center)
Craft Time at the Salem Dream Center. (Courtesy/Salem Dream Center)
Adult Education Class at the Salem Dream Center. (Courtesy/Salem Dream Center)
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Mary Louise VanNatta is a Salem public relations professional writing regularly for Salem Reporter. During the quarantine, she will be connecting with Salem nonprofits. Tell her about your nonprofit needs at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook.
