The Resource Backbone for Fun Fridays
Written by Tim Buckley, July 2026
Each year, the crowds get larger as neighbors tell neighbors about Fun Fridays, a perfect family outing for a warm summer day.
Hundreds of families come to relax, play, eat, be entertained, learn new things and perhaps go home with a new bicycle or a gift card from the generous raffles.
It wouldn’t be possible without sponsors, and each year the list gets bigger. After thanking major sponsors: Mountain West Center for Community Excellence and Meyer Memorial Trust, there’s also a big thanks to others like Oregon Community Foundation, Sodexo, Salem Health, Americold, Pacific Source, Heritage Grove Credit Union, United Way, Willamette Valley Bank, Central Willamette Credit Union, Three Pines Wealth Advisors, Ameriprise Financial, and Pioneer Trust Bank.
Here’s another thing that makes Fun Fridays memorable and worth a repeat visit: the number of resource people who come representing more than 50 community partners.
The following are quotes from a selection of representatives, some of the 50-plus organizations who came to meet, share and celebrate with neighbors.
Mark Jantz, Senior Officer, Community Engagement, Salem Police Department:
I’ve been at every Fun Friday event since they started five or six years ago. Every year, we give away thousands of popsicles and engage with families without an agenda. We want to put a human face on the police department, have positive interactions with young people who may have a negative impression of police in general. At least once every event, someone will say, “Thanks for being here again!”
The Fun Fridays are important because they give the community a good reason to come out, join the fun and celebrate our commonality. In Northgate Park, where some of the Fun Fridays are held, the work of CBEL and the neighborhood councils has helped to create safe places for families to congregate. The Salem PD is glad to be a partner in all of that.
Leslye Garcia, Kindergarten Readiness Partnerships Coordinator, Early Learning Hub
The Marion Polk Early Learning Hub has been at every Fun Friday and we’re a strategic partner with CBEL and the neighborhood councils because we have a common vision. I love how intentional CBEL is, bringing parters together to provide wraparound services to families in areas of high need.
When you’re here, it feels bigger than a Friday night event; it feels like you’re part of a movement! The resource people who come are here because we share CBEL’s vision for healthy communities.
Whenever we come to a Fun Friday, we talk to hundreds of people, many of them parents with children eager to learn about the Early Learning Hub’s offerings. After every event, we see a jump in the number of people engaging with our Dolly Parton Imagination Library, for example. And we now have about 2000 people signed up for our Lantern program, through which they receive texts about special resources available to them for no, or little cost.
Sam Parra, Community Relations Officer, Heritage Grove Credit Union - SPONSOR
This is my second year coming to Fun Fridays. I found so much usefulness here last year that the Credit Union agreed to be a financial sponsor this year. I probably talk to over 100 people every event, and a lot of is just casual, friendly talk…getting to know each other. It helps that I’m bilingual, because a lot of families are Spanish speakers primarily.
Fun Fridays are important for the families showing up here because we offer free classes in financial literacy and household budgeting that many appreciate. People learn how to improve their credit scores. I’ve been asked to present to a number of schools and organizations because of information people found here.
But being here benefits Heritage Grove too, because some of those I become friends with here end up being members of the credit union.
Gene Iparraguirre, Bilingual Adult Librarian, Salem Public Library
Events like this are good for me, to learn more about the community I live in. These events are also good for the neighbors who attend. You get a sense of belonging here, much like we try to provide at the library. Many who stop here to chat are surprised to learn the wide array of things the library offers besides the opportunity to read and borrow books.
With all the stress in a person’s life, it’s comforting to know you aren’t alone. There’s a vibrancy at these neighborhood events. It’s fun to be here and be part of the enjoyment others experience. It creates a sense of unity.
Employment and Training Navigator, Oregon Dept. of Human Services
We attend more than 80 events like this every year. We’ve come to all the Fun Fridays so that families who face challenges can get the resources, support and benefits they need.
We help individuals apply or answer questions for SNAP, OHP, TANF, ERDC and DV assistance along with our summer EBT program that runs for the summer months which helps kiddos and families while school is out.
Another popular program here for individuals and families ONLY receiving SNAP (food stamps) benefits is our Employment & Training Program also known as STEP. STEP works alongside a group of providers who may be able to assist with career coaching, resume building, education assistance such as tuition, books, and possibly covering cost for books and tuition, transportation, licensing fees, work gear, and computer needs to support employment and education goals.
An example of recent employment support was helping someone get their Commercial Driver’s License, and another person to get training as a phlebotomist (blood tests).
Nick McQuade, Next Steps Teacher, Mid Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
I teach a Rethinking Careers course designed to help youth (up to age 25) build resumes, get training and find employment. The workforce development program pays eligible youth and young adults during their training, and even pays for basic supports like food, hygiene products, and clothing.
I came here today with more than 40 flyers that invited people to check out the program. I have just this one flyer left, so I’m thinking that this high-need neighborhood will find the program useful.
Maureen Casey, active member, East Salem Rotary
The East Salem Rotary (ESR) places a high value on literacy, and in NE Salem and Keizer, we have built and maintained 14 Little Libraries beginning in 2020. Each of the libraries is "adopted" by an ESR Rotary member who replenishes books regularly and quickly identifies any repairs that may be needed.
Literacy is essential to developing a strong sense of well-being and lifelong success. Children who have developed strong reading skills enter Kindergarten ready to learn, perform better in school, graduate from High School at a higher rate. and have a healthier self-image. They become lifelong learners and sought-after employees.
ESR has partnered with parents, the Salem-Keizer School District , and CBEL to help promote children's literacy. We have participated in the Fun Fridays since they began, distributing free English and bilingual books. At each Fun Friday, about 200 books are selected by children and families, many of whom walk away with a free book and a smile.
On a monthly basis, families are using between 400-500 books from the Little Libraries. These Little Libraries and the CBEL Fun Fridays are great opportunities to get books into the homes of children and families who all too often do not have access to them.
Ashley Dunn, Community Engagement Manager, City of Salem (City Mgr. Office)
The City is trying to engage people in Northeast Salem to tell us your thoughts about your community. They want people to complete an online survey through which they hope to learn about the issues most important to residents. They also hope to gain insights about strategies to address those issues through “community-driven solutions”.
After the survey is analyzed, a group of 30 people (including many from the target NE area) will create a collaborative effort to build strategies that address the priority issues.
CBEL understands that social change must start with empowering local people to prioritize their needs and be involved in the solutions. That creates a sense of ownership, inclusion and belonging so important in making lasting, positive change.
