SALEM AREA ECUMENICAL MINISTRIES
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Mission Statement
The Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries is a gathering of representatives (lay and pastoral) from Salem and western Roanoke County churches and local service agencies that strive to Invite, Involve, Inspire, Educate and Strengthen our communities by putting our faith in action. SAEM serves to strengthen community resources by encouraging collaboration in the areas of food, clothing and educational resources.
About This Cause
Last year, almost 1 in 3 school-age children in Salem and western Roanoke County were eligible for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. That's good news for these children during the school year, but what happens on Saturday and Sunday or during the summer months when many may have very little to eat? That's where our ACT Packs for Children and Summer Feed and Read programs can make a difference! For over 14 years, Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries has provided nutritious and wholesome breakfast and lunch items for at-risk school-age children in Salem and western Roanoke County. During these years, the feeding programs have grown from 2 schools and less than 40 students to 9 schools and over 185 participants for the weekend and over 175 families for the summer feeding program. We are struggling to provide additional financial support to meet the increasing needs and to develop a community-based program to support the schools and students. To increase access to healthy, nutritious, and wholesome foods during the school year, SAEM has partnered with the Salem and Roanoke County School Divisions to support the food pantries in the local elementary schools. There are 9 schools within Salem and western Roanoke County and our project is to provide financial support and food items for these in-school food pantries to support children and families facing food insecurity. With additional funding, SAEM will expand the food pantry program, to include the purchase of shelving units, food items, and other supplies. Funds will be used to stock the food pantry with non-perishable, fresh, and pre-packaged recipe kits - the pantry will be stocked with food based on the My-Plate Model. Food will include fresh, canned, and frozen items. Students will be given a choice of items to create well-balanced meals to eat at home, snacks, and after-school activities. Our goal is to provide partial funding to ensure sustainability and self-sufficiency for each food pantry. Each school has a designated Family Engagement Coordinator/Guidance Counselor to support the in-house feeding programs and several schools also currently host food drives throughout the school year and partner with local community groups, churches, businesses, and individuals to support these programs. Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries serves as the lead agency in coordinating the partnerships and establishing the food pantry in each school. In addition, Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries and the School Division have partnered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension (through Virginia Tech) to provide Cooking and Nutrition classes to youth in the schools and parents at community sites. We will also offer Community Engagement opportunities through nutrition education, poverty simulations, and fundraising events. Cooking programs and Tastings/Food Experiences will align with curricula and "Harvest of the Month" items and will offer menu selections and recipes. In addition to our feeding programs, another SAEM ministry is Mrs. Dorsey's Clothes Closet located in Salem. For almost 40 years, Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet has developed a strong foundation and reputation as a valuable asset to the Salem/Roanoke communities. One of the largest clothing closets in the Valley, we have experienced steady growth, especially with the emerging need for children’s clothes and shoes. In addition, many other clothes closets have closed due to financial and volunteer staffing difficulties, resulting in increased usage for Ms. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet An all-volunteer organization, we rely on our cadre of 30-40 volunteers contributing over 3,000 volunteer hours annually. Local churches and community groups provide financial and volunteer support. Many of the volunteers are senior citizens and college students and like many community ministries we are struggling to recruit additional volunteers. Additional funding will assist in providing rental support allowing the Clothes Closet to continue to provide a suitable home. During 2023, Mrs. Dorsey's Clothes Closet: 1. Provided new and used clothing for people in need in the Salem community and surrounding area. Clothes are freely donated by church members, civic groups, school groups, businesses and individuals. 2. In 2023, Mrs. Dorsey`s Clothes Closet served 6,159 guests for a total of 14,272 total family members. This included 736 new guests during the year, many non-English speaking. We provided 1,782 winter coats provided by community members. 3. Seventy-five (75%) of our guests earned less than $ 10,000 and 97% earn less than $ 25,000. Average income range was $ 7,471 to $ 12,461 with the median income at $ 9,961. These income levels are the lowest in Clothes Closet history. 4. Guests live in Salem (24%), Roanoke City (57%) and Roanoke County (14%), Montgomery County (2%) and Other (3%). 5. Approximately 57% of the guests have children with many reporting the Clothes Closet is their major source for school clothing and shoes. 6. Our ethnic mix is quite disparate: 60% of our guests are Caucasian; 20% Hispanic; 15% African American; 4% Haitian and 1% Other. 7. Shoe vouchers are available for purchase of work shoes and school shoes. In addition, the Clothes Closet provides school supplies, age-appropriate books and personal hygiene items to school-age children and families. We frequently receive “thanks” from our guests with many reporting their new clothing helped prepare them for job interviews. Many parents have reported their children now “look forward to school and feel more confident” with their new school clothes and shoes. One parent was so proud she was recently hired and the supervisor commented on her “nice business dress.”