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2015 MARION-POLK FOOD SHARE PROJECTS:
SEED SHED BUILD at the MPFS headquarters.
YOUTH FARM ENHANCEMENTS at Oregon School for the Deaf.
HAMMOND COMMUNITY GARDEN DEVELOPMENT at Hammond
Elementary School.
ACCESSIBLE GARDEN CREATION at the MPFS headquarters.
YOUTH AMBASSADOR FOOD DRIVE PLAN for local high school participation.
July 2015
A service-learning
leadership camp
empowering teens
to create positive
community change
through:
 Peer-to-Peer
Advocacy
Why wouldn’t we want to join
the fight to end hunger?
Because we’re too young?
Many of us have experienced a bare
fridge. Many of us have received a food
box. Many of us are enrolled in the
Free and Reduced Meals Program in
school and camp. And if we haven’t
faced hunger in our lives, then we know
someone who has.
We can be a part of the solution now!
These collective statements were
expressed during CAREcorps before
students ever stepped foot onto MarionPolk Food Share (MPFS) headquarters.
The idea of serving people beyond the
Salem-Keizer area was exciting and our
teens couldn’t wait to get started on
learning & serving.
For the 2015 year, the collaborative
partners sought to hone in on just one
social/environmental issue and ideally
partner with only one non profit. Camp
is filled with self-discovery and teambuilding activities, skill development,
project planning and implementation,
leadership opportunities and AVID
concepts. In order to elevate our
mission to the next level, it would
require intentionally building stronger
bonds between students and the
causes and organizations we serve.
If you’re familiar with CAREcorps, you’ll
know that student service teams
normally serve between 3-5 different
organizations each summer. Teens love
the variety of project options and non
profit missions. They feel they have a
better sense of the community by
interacting with so many stellar groups.
However, many of our youth are unable
to articulate the overall mission and
strategies of any given organization and
could only speak to their specific service
project details and outcomes.
 Youth-Adult
Partnerships
 Individual Skill
Development
 Personal and
Community
Goal-Setting
 ServiceLearning
Projects
We observed a
stronger, more
unified Corps as a
result of our sole
focus on ending
hunger.
We couldn’t think of a
more comprehensive,
equipped and ready
group than MPFS to
take on 60+ kids to
enhance current
services and
resources while
developing knowledgeable teen ambassadors for such an
important local cause.
THANK YOU just isn’t enough for all of
the staff time, resources, & welcoming
spirit MPFS provided. SPECIAL THANKS
to Marshall Curry for his support! This
was one of our best summers to-date.
—Laurie Shaw-Casarez,
Youth Development, City of Salem
A collaborative project
of the following:
Youth can help
change an issue
in school or the
community for
the better.
I think freshmen
should return to
CAREcorps as
10th graders.
9th
grade
10-12th
grade
1. 8th & 9th grade students in the Salem Keizer School
District apply for camp through their school’s AVID
Program before the school year ends.
% of students
who
AGREE/
STRONGLY
AGREE
2. In late Spring, CAREcorps provides an INTERVIEW DAY
followed by several evening orientations with 1 or more
partnering non-profits. In June, TRAINING WEEK is
held for paid and volunteer leadership positions for
11th and 12th graders.
% of students
who
AGREE/
STRONGLY
AGREE
“The way we help and serve our community in
“I have woken up early on
summer mornings to Make
[SALEM] Better for two years
now and the impact it has
had on me is more than
words can say.
I have
created good memories,
stayed focused on my goals
and have created a better
outlook on life….I have had
more support in the basement of the IKE Box Café
[camp base] than anywhere
else. It has changed my
life.”
—Elizabeth Garibay
10th Grade Member
McKay High School
“I liked being around people
who care as much about
helping as I do. I learned
that no matter what stereotypes are out there, we
don't have to stay in them,
we can be better and make
the world a better place. I
kept showing up because I
was given an opportunity to
help others and I wanted
to. Although I enjoy being
lazy sometimes, it's also
important to do what you
can to make someone's life
better.
—Rebecca Nash
9th Grade Member
West Salem High School
I saw there was a connection
between the love I have for
science and the love I have
for helping others. CAREcorps has helped me narrow
down my future career goals
by allowing me to learn my
love for serving others.”
—Jessica Martinez
11th Grade Leader
West Salem High School
How Camp Works...
Teen
Leaders
CAREcorps has helped me realize that I can do so
much for so many people in such little time.
—Genesis Ocegueda
10th Grade Member
McKay High School
3. High School Leaders select service projects presented
by the partnering non-profit. Representatives share
potential projects and needs and request teen support.
4. In July, youth lead volunteer teams of rising 9th-12th
graders (both new & returning members) in preselected projects.
5. Service teams are trained and then research, plan &
implement projects all within a 3 week period.
6. CAREcorps celebrates student efforts by inviting the
community to service team presentations the last day
of camp.
S ERVICE- L EARNING
IS A TEACHING & LEARNING
STRATEGY THAT INTEGRATES
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY
SERVICE WITH INSTRUCTION
AND REFLECTION TO ENRICH
THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE,
TEACH CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY,
AND STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITIES.
WWW. SERVICELEARNING . ORG
7. Members receive a certificate of achievement at the
event and are eligible for Letters of Recommendation.
2015 Highlights...
2
service projects captured on film thanks to CCTV.
Go to youtube.com. Search: “CAREcorps 2015”
13 paid positions were created for (5) high school upperclassmen leaders, (6) team mentors and (2) teaching
staff. (5) Volunteer student leadership roles were also
filled.
61 students participated representing the Salem Keizer
Public School District’s 6 traditional high schools, 1
non traditional. Up from 51 in 2014.
74 hours of approximate volunteer time provided by
community members to student service projects.
267 volunteer hours provided by service teams past camp
hours.
595 in cash donations were received through youth
solicitations and the South Salem Connect Challenge.
6810 dollars in donated items, in kind services and
borrowed equipment were secured by youth from 36
local businesses, civic groups & individual donors.
CAREcorps...
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Provides “real world” skill development
activities to improve college & workforce
readiness.

Teen
Leaders
% of students
who
AGREE/
STRONGLY
AGREE
Networks teens across school campuses
and fosters friendships across socioeconomic and racial lines.
Creates a bridge for incoming 9th graders
to positively connect with upperclassmen
from shared high schools.

10-12th
grade
Reinforces key AVID components for all
members.
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
9th
grade
Provides upperclassmen leaders & 2nd
year members a City of Salem letter of
recommendation for college portfolios and
resumes upon request.
% of students
who
AGREE/
STRONGLY
AGREE
Seed Shed
(note-taking, budgeting,
teamwork, leadership,
public speaking, project
planning)
I feel we
accomplished what
we set out to do.
*53 of 61 campers submitted post-camp evaluations.
2011
2012
Dorothy Patch
Community
and
Educational
Achievement
Award
2013
MPFS September
Garden Tour:
West Salem
Community Garden
Service Project
Highlighted
HASBRO Community Action Hero
Grant & Honors
1 of 10 out of 14,000 entries world-wide
2013
Provides a (.5) community service elective
credit after completing 2 years of camp;
the equivalent of 1 semester of class.
Links members to activities, to camp staff
and to resources throughout the upcoming
school year & beyond.
Participating in this
project helped me
develop & practice
skills for real life.
SKEF/MPFS Fall
Ribbon Cutting:
Aquaponics
Greenhouse
Service Project
Highlighted
Pictured: McKay Campers with Senator Peter Courtney.
Accessible Garden
After spending my 1st
summer with CAREcorps
and returning to school, I
realized that I myself
could have influence over
what happens in my
school. [ECHS] lacked a
Student Government.
With the knowledge,
skills and resources I
had, I did everything in
my power to instigate
change...that
would
impact the entire student
body.
As a result of [my research] and meetings
with faculty, I formed [it].
[This] is pretty noteworthy
because I’m usually a
quiet person who just
minds their own business
and only focuses on my
own wellbeing.
However, CAREcorps has
taught me that I should
not only look in [my] lane
but should pay attention
to how the road is
structured as well as to
the other people in
different lanes.”
—Tapiwa Kapurura
11th Grade Leader
Early College High School
“CAREcorps feels like a
Learning Gardens
Youth Farm
“What I miss most from camp [already] is having fun while learning
and helping the community.”
—Oscar Figueroa
9th Grade Leader
McKay High School
Youth Ambassador Food Drive
2nd family of teens from
all the Salem-Keizer high
schools….I
thought
[camp] would be boring
but CAREcorps made me
feel different about
myself. I had fun while I
worked
but
most
importantly, I got to know
other teens [too].
I
learned different ways of
helping the community
and I could feel proud of
myself for making a
difference!”
—Melony Cabrera
10th Grade Member
South Salem High School
THANK YOU
Partners & Supporters
AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination*
The AVID Student
Thank you South Salem
Connect for creating and
sustaining the “SSC
CHALLENGE” for 3 of our 5
years of programming. SSC
provides $100 to each
service team for projects
with the caveat that campers
find donation matches. What
a difference it makes when
seeking support.
CAREcorps’ Families
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Individual Donors &Vols
Marion Polk Food Share
13th Street Nursery
Marty Tomberg Charitable
Fund
Ace Hardware
(W. Salem)
Marshall Curry
Ace Hardware
(SE Salem)
NW Greenlands Recology
Company
Action Pallets
Parr Lumber Company
Salem
Barbara Bamford
Family YMCA of Marion
and Polk Counties
Freres Lumbers
(Mill City)
Rick Retzman
Salem First Presbyterian
Church
Salem Keizer Schools
(AVID Program)
Home Depot (SE Salem)
Salem Leadership Fdn
Ike Box Café
Salem Printing & Blue Prints
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft
Store
JW Hartzer Carpet
Installation
Keizer Nursery and
HydroGardening Center
Sherwin Williams (Keizer)
Sherwin Williams (S. Salem)
Star Rentals
Western Interlock
Ken Eatwell
For More Information:
Laurie Shaw Casarez, City of Salem
([email protected]
503 540-2321
Krina Lee, Salem-Keizer Education Foundation
[email protected]
503 932-3201
Mark Bulgin, Isaac’s Room, Inc. (Ike Box -Ike Quest)
[email protected]
503 581-6154
Percentage Of Local
AVID Graduates
Accepted Into A 4-Year
College/University. **
AVID targets students in the academic middle - B, C, and
even D students - who have the desire to go to college
and the willingness to work hard. Typically, they will be
the first in their families to attend college, and many are
from low-income or minority families. AVID pulls these
students out of their unchallenging courses and puts
them on the college track: acceleration instead of
remediation.*
*www.avid.org
**http://www.salkeiz.k12.or.us/inside24j
teens in the past 4
years have earned
the high school
community service
elective credit (.5)
thru CAREcorps.
CAREcorps Members &
Upperclassmen Leadership
2015
Early College High
Susana Munive 11th grade
Tapiwa Kapurura, Jr.* 11th grade
Rosa Emilia Gonzalez Enriques 9th grade
Flor Maciel 9th grade
Andrea Auina Cervantes 9th grade
Ariel Juarez 9th grade
Yenedith Quintero* 11th grade
McKay High
Gabriela Santoyo 11th grade
Jhoanna Barragan 11th grade
Roberto Garcia 12th grade
Esther Ceron 9th grade
Janet Flores 9th grade
Shaylee Lathrop 9th grade
Cesar Ramirez 9th grade
Antonio Muñoz 9th grade
Dorion Bell 9th grade
Angelica Brown Vidaña 9th grade
Marco Morales 9th grade
Oscar Figueroa Ponce 9th grade
Jasmin Ramos 9th grade
Stephanie Warren 9th grade
Valerie Garibay 10th grade
Xiunelly Concepcion Nicolas 10th grade
Citlalli Casteneda Ruelas 10th grade
Lizabeth Castenda 10th grade
Elizabeth Garibay-Diaz *10th grade
Genesis Oceguedo *10th grade
Jessica Daggett* 10th grade
Jacqueline Castillo 12th grade
McNary High
Jaret Brown 12th grade
McKenize O’Dell 12th grade
Rachel Ross 10th grade
North Salem High
No representation.
students have completed
at least one year of camp
since its launch in 2011.
South Salem High
Gardenia Valdez 11th grade
Benvolio BourqueValente 9th grade
Ariel Juarez 9th grade
Dylin Farrior 9th grade
Andrew Nguyen 9th grade
McKenzie Ellis 9th grade
Molly Steel-Miller 9th grade
Juan Vargas 9th grade
Elizabeth Varela 9th grade
Melina Gomez 9th grade
Tiffanie Eaton 9th grade
Deanna Chavez 9th grade
Melony Cabrera* 10th grade
Leslie Hernandez* 10th grade
Sulema Medina* 10th grade
Christy O’Connor* 10th grade, Non AVID
Janeth Hernandez 10th grade
Leslie Calderon Villa *10th grade
Mayra Victoria Guijon* 10th grade
Sprague High
Skylar Lopez 9th
Bryce Oakes* 10th grade
Jestin Ulin 11th grade
West Salem High
Irene Esther-Comer 11th grade
Jessica Martinez*11th grade
Rebecca Nash 9th grade
Hannah Wakefield 9th grade
Kerissa Butler 9th grade
Hailey Tipton 9th grade
Toan Ngo*10th grade
NOTE: All students listed are in AVID unless specified otherwise. An * represents returning
members who have completed at least 2 years of CAREcorps and are eligible for the 2015
SKSD Community Service Elective Credit. Names in bold represent upperclassmen leaders
both paid & volunteer.
High School
Graduation Rate Of
Salem-Keizer AVID
Students in 2015.**