Salem, listen up.

If you caught me at the Awesome 3000 recently, you know two things: I’m a glutton for punishment as the emcee, and I still haven't figured out how to spot a specific kid in a sea of identical t-shirts without some sort of GPS tracker.

(Shoutout to my parents for the "Red Shirt Strategy". It’s the only reason I wasn't left at the track in 1994).

But while the Awesome 3000 is the big, loud celebration we all see, there’s something massive happening behind the scenes in this town that you probably haven't heard about. I sat down with my good friend Rhonda Wolf, the powerhouse over at the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley to record a podcast recently, and it turns out they are the best-kept secret in the 503.

United Way used to be known as the people in suits holding clipboards at workplace meetings. But they’ve fundamentally changed how they show up for the Valley. They’ve pivoted from being a middleman who distributes money to a full-blown service provider that moves mountains of gear.

They are effectively the backbone of Salem’s supply chain. Last year, they processed $17 million in physical resources out of a warehouse that is currently bursting at the seams. We’re talking about pallets of real-world help, diapers, clothes, tech, and household goods, that flow through their doors and directly into more than 75 local organizations.

To put is simply, they’ve become the logistics hub that ensures our local nonprofits have the tools they need to actually do their jobs.

I took a tour of their warehouse recently, and it’s a trip. It’s like a giant game of "What’s in the Box?" except the stakes are helping our neighbors.

Their entire operation is currently crammed into a space that’s way too small. They’re leasing extra room just to keep up, and they’ve actually had to start saying no to donations because there’s nowhere to put the pallets. That’s free stuff for our community that we’re leaving on the table because we lack the square footage.

The Solution: The old Marion Polk Food Share building is opening up. It’s bigger, it’s better, and it’s the perfect spot for United Way to build a permanent Emergency Preparedness Hub.

If you’re like me, you want to know where your support goes. Get this: 92 cents of every dollar at United Way goes directly into their programs. Only 8 cents goes to administration costs. That is practically a miracle.

Fun Fact: United Way is also the crew behind the senior cottages on Market Street. They provide secure, dignified housing for $500 a month for seniors who are often just one rent hike away from the street. They’re looking to add 15 more units. No debt, no fluff, just results.

We aren't asking for your wallet today. We’re asking for your voice. United Way is looking for funding through the legislature to secure this new warehouse. To get it, we need to show our elected officials that Salem has their back. It’s a "light lift" for you, but a massive win for the 270,000 people they serve.

Your Mission: Click the link below and sign the letter of support. It tells our leaders that this warehouse move is a priority for the people who actually live here.

Fill out the form here: United Way Community Resource Center Campaign

Let’s help Rhonda and her team get the space they need to keep the Mid-Willamette Valley running. And if you see me at the next Awesome 3000, come say hi, I'll be the guy in the red shirt.

Stay grounded,

Jacob Espinoza

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See you next Thursday,

Ernie