Fall 2025

1.) Salem Area Chamber of Commerce - Awarded $1,000 to replace and repair planter boxes and Adirondack chairs along Main Street in Salem. While a local carpenter is donating labor for this work, the funds will cover material costs. 

2.) Town of Salem - Tree Committee - Awarded $1,000 to replace trees recently removed throughout the Town of Salem. This initiative will enhance community beauty and property values for affected homes. The committee plans to establish an ongoing program with annual spring plantings and a tree maintenance program to manage aging trees. The first plantings are scheduled for spring 2026. 

3.) Salem Ecumenical Food Pantry - Awarded $7,000 to fund the purchase of a freezer and cooler alarm system to prevent food waste, and repairs to their van used for food transportation and delivery to those without access. Any remaining funds will be used to purchase food from the Regional Food Bank. 

4.) Salem Youth Basketball - Awarded $1,000 to support referee payments and basketball replacement purchases. Serving over 100 youth and their families, this investment supports the community's future. Salem Youth Basketball operates under the Salem Area Youth Association.

Spring 2025

1.) Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association, Inc. - $12,000 to support their installation of a fence around the lawn that is used by Lunch, Learn and Play students and staff each day during the summer program. The total cost for the installation is expected to be just under $18,000 and the remaining funds are anticipated from other grants. This project seeks to improve the safety of all those who use the lawn which abuts East Broadway/County Route 153 and is regularly travelled. Additionally, by working with the town’s historic commission, it will restore a feature that was part of the Courthouse in the late 1800s. 

2.) Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association, Inc. -  $5,000 to implement a Workforce Development Program for Lunch, Learn, and Play (LLP) counselors and our campers. The Workforce Development Program would give counselors the opportunity to explore varied career paths as presented by local businesses and organizations. The counselors would then be required to help present these career paths to their campers and in doing so learn by teaching. The campers at their young age would have their first exposure to the many career possibilities that exist all around them and the skills that are needed to pursue these careers. This initiative has the potential to not only introduce our K-12 campers and counselors to the world of work and careers, but may also be a source of funding for our camp to hire counselors in future years. This would add a great deal to the sustainability of our free camp.

2024