SALEM, Oregon — If it weren’t for child care, many first responders, health care workers and other considered essential wouldn’t be able to go to work, make a living or continue protecting or providing for the rest of us.
Once Oregon Gov. Kate Brown closed all schools in Oregon, parents around the state were scrambling to figure out how they would continue making a living while also taking care of their children.
The issue was even more pressing for health care workers and first responders. When the outbreak began in the United States, it became clear health care systems would be overwhelmed with an influx of patients and it would need to be all hands on deck.
Immediately, Salvation Army stepped up to help fill the need. When the crisis began, Salvation Army Marion and Polk County Coordinator Lt. Quinton Markham said they started making plans to roll out an emergency child care operation for essential workers who needed it.
The Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Salem, operated by the Salvation Army, could no longer host its usual programming or services, so they opened it up for childcare on March 30.
“State and local government, and the health care industry at Salem Health, they all identified this as a potential need--or you could even say a problem--for many of their workers," Markham said. "Many of their kids are in preschool or in school at this point and they were sitting there trying to figure out, 'What am I going to do with my kids for the next few weeks while this is going on?'"
Thanks in part to a large donation from AT&T, Salvation Army is providing free child care from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and provides all meals and snacks, as well as structured education and fun activities.
They currently serve 78 children between the ages of 4 and 12. They have the capacity through a temporary license to care for 100 kids.
Normally, Markham says, part of the facility is used as a preschool. So there are a number of employees certified and trained to teach and care for children. Employees from other parts of the center are stepping up to help, as are some staff from Head Start.
Salvation Army partnered with the Salem-Keizer School District to provide Chromebooks and other distance learning resources for school-aged students who need them.
In a press release, Salvation Army quoted a mom who works at Santiam Memorial Hospital: “Without you, I would not be employed at the moment. You guys are amazing in working with the kids and their routine. I feel at ease knowing my kids are in a safe place.”
“The feedback we’re getting is one of appreciation. Parents are telling us, ‘Look, if it wasn’t for you guys I don’t know what I’d be doing. You’re helping me to continue working and provide for my family by providing child care for us,'" Markham added.
Many of those parents felt they didn’t have any other option.
The Salvation Army asks that individuals come to the center with a paycheck stub or identification badge to prove they are essential or frontline workers, serving a critical need in the community.
When asked if other area branches in Oregon have reached out to see if they could follow suit, Markham said not yet but it would be possible if they had a facility and funding.
The Salvation Army serving Marion and Polk counties is also making hundreds of food boxes to people in need during the week. If you need food or somewhere to stay, reach out to 503-585-6688. Delivery is an option for anyone who can’t come to the Salvation Army’s office on Front Street NE in Salem.
Salvation Army says it needs more funding to continue providing critical services for communities around the state.
“The Salvation Army, in times of crisis, this is what we do. We step up and help the community and that’s why we’re here and we hope people recognize that. We hope people support the Salvation Army through all of this,” Markham added.
To donate, visit krocsalem.org.
