On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 members of the local community gathered to celebrate a dream that has now become a reality, the opening of the Epping Homestead Boys & Girls Club Branch located at 3805 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem OR 97305.
Sue Bloom, Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, shared that in late 2018, Gary Epping, son of Larry and Jeanette Epping, called her and said that the family wanted to give the homestead property to build a Boys & Girls Club. She said that Gary shared with her later that his dad had told Gary, Shawn, and the trustees to “use the property for its highest and best use.”
Full of gratitude, Sue told the crowd, “It’s where we are standing today folks. The highest and best use is for the kids in our community. Blows my mind.”
Earlier in 2018, a needs assessment was done to understand where current after school programs were being offered within the Salem-Keizer footprint and then indicators of need were overlaid over that. Things like high density populations, free and reduced lunch, under performing schools, and crime rates. Based on the findings, the area were the Epping property is located represented the biggest area of need on the whole map.
They learned that within a 1-mile radius of the property, are nearly 3700 school age youth. Of those kids, over 95% of them live below the federal poverty line. Less that 30% of those same kids are meeting the state learning standards in reading, language arts and math. And over the past two or so years crime has increased in the area as well.
Sue stated, “It is the perfect spot to build a Boys and Girls Club, and to bring hope and opportunity to a neighborhood.”
On Monday, October 3, 2022, the Epping Homestead Boys & Girls Club Branch will open its doors to the children and youth in the neighborhood for the very first time. And what a day that will be! The club will serve up to 200 kids per day between their teen center and and the youth/elementary side.
Sue finished by saying that, “We all want the kids in our community to be happy, healthy, contributing members of society, and the Club is committed to walking alongside our kids; the kids who need us most, to help them bust their barriers and the challenges that they often face; including houselessness, food insecurity, gaps in education, and substance abuse. Every kid deserves a place to feel safe and have a place to belong, a place to be connected, and a place to be cared for, and every opportunity to become the very best version of themselves. And the Epping Homestead Club is that place.”
The entire crowd was invited to move out to the turf field behind the Club for the first ceremonial flag raising at the site followed by the cutting of the ribbon to signify the official opening of the Club. Club member, Gabe, beautifully sang the National Anthem as the flag was raised. Then as the scissors sliced through the long blue ribbon, everyone present, including members of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials, as well as Boys and Girls Club staff and community supporters, all cheered. The Club’s motto says it best, “Great Futures Start Here.”
For more information about the history of the Boys and Girls Club in Salem and about the services and programs they offer visit their website: https://bgc-salem.org/
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