As summer heats up across the Willamette Valley, Salem-Keizer schools are making sure local children don’t go hungry. The district has relaunched its summer community lunch program, a returning effort aimed at fighting food insecurity among kids and families during the months when school cafeterias are closed.

The program, highlighted this week by the Salem Reporter, provides free meals to young people in the community throughout the summer break. By reviving the initiative, Salem-Keizer is stepping up to fill a real gap — for many students, school meals are a critical daily source of nutrition, and summer can mean weeks without that reliable support.

Efforts like this one reflect the kind of community-minded thinking that makes Salem a special place to live. Rather than letting the end of the school year also mean the end of access to nutritious food, the district is opening its doors and its kitchens to serve families who need it most.

The summer lunch program is part of a broader national effort to address childhood hunger during school breaks, and Salem-Keizer’s participation ensures that local kids are covered. Families looking to take advantage of the program are encouraged to reach out to the district for details on locations and times.

Meanwhile, Salem has another reason to feel good about its community spirit this week. Popular local ice cream shop On Any Sundae is opening a brand-new location on Market Street, according to the Statesman Journal. The expansion brings a beloved local treat to a new corner of the city, adding a sweet option for neighbors, shoppers, and anyone looking to cool off on a warm summer afternoon. The new Market Street spot signals confidence in Salem’s local business scene and gives residents one more reason to explore downtown.

From free lunches for kids to fresh scoops on Market Street, Salem is showing this summer that community care and local pride go hand in hand.

Sources: Salem Reporter, Statesman Journal