SELCO Steps Up continues to grow alongside the communities it serves.
This year marks the second SELCO Steps Up Celebration Week, and team members across the organization stepped up once again to make it a week of generosity and connection.
Through in-branch nonprofit voting, Acts of Kindness, DonorsChoose projects, and community partner donations, SELCO invested nearly $25,000 across our communities.
The week was made possible by the energy and commitment of SELCO team members, including our dedicated Steps Up Ambassadors, who helped bring these moments of giving to life.
Celebrating with our members
Members jumped in on the action, enjoying treats in the branches, as well as guiding SELCO donations locally by voting for local nonprofits nominated by our team members. More than 1,000 votes were cast in branches, helping determine which organizations would receive donations in each region. In the spirit of Celebration Week, both finalists received support, with the winning organization in each region receiving a slightly larger donation.
The following organizations were selected. Together, winners and runners-up received a combined total of $12,000 in donations:
- Albany: ABC House (runner-up: Family Tree Relief Nursery)
- Burns: Kids Club (runner-up: Harney Hub)
- Central Oregon: Cascade Youth & Family Center (runner-up: Family Access Network)
- Eugene/Springfield: Every Child Lane County (runner-up: Ophelia’s Place)
- Forest Park: Friendly House (runner-up: Forest Park Conservancy)
- Salem: Liberty House (runner-up: Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion & Polk Counties)
Each of these organizations plays an important role in supporting youths, families, and individuals across Oregon. We are proud to invest in the work they carry out every day.
Stepping into our communities
Celebration Week is also about showing up in places where support is needed most.
SELCO Steps Up Ambassadors and team members delivered Acts of Kindness throughout their communities, supporting organizations that provide youth programs, housing services, food assistance, animal care, and more. Altogether, more than $8,500 was given through these efforts.
From stocking food pantries to crafting packages at a diaper bank, team members stepped into different service areas to lend a hand. During a midweek drop-in event, our team members also assembled nearly 100 Relaxation Kits for Positive Community Kitchen, an organization that delivers tailored meals to community members experiencing life-threatening illnesses. Each kit included a weighted eye pillow, tea, and dark chocolate, offering a small moment of comfort and care.
Supporting students and educators
SELCO also continued supporting educators by funding 17 DonorsChoose projects, investing nearly $4,000 to help classrooms secure supplies and resources for students.
One of our DonorsChoose projects helped provide Heavy Work tools to Four Corners Elementary School in Salem, impacting 400 students. This project gave students the opportunity to release their energy and regulate their body movements during breaks. These tools are especially helpful for students dealing with emotional regulation struggles, more commonly found in those dealing with ADHD, autism, and high anxiety.
Through DonorsChoose, we also helped bring to life a project at Tom McCall Elementary School in Redmond, impacting 500 students. The school’s request was snacks, so we jumped at the idea. We’ve always believed that no student should face barriers to education. By filling the front office and counseling offices with snacks, the school can offer a nice gesture to these students when they might need it most—during a moment of hunger or when they simply need to feel encouraged or valued.
A tradition that will live on
Celebration Week continues to highlight what SELCO Steps Up is all about: showing up for our communities and supporting the people and organizations doing meaningful work every day.
And each year, we will continue to find new ways to step up where it matters most.
