Meet the 15 winners of Salem's volunteer awards

Over the past year, 3,616 volunteers contributed 158,716 hours with the city to better the community through various work like promoting cultural events, providing comfort animals and responding to emergencies.

"Volunteers help keep the City of Salem running," city officials said. "Whether they serve on advisory boards, work on behalf of seniors, provide neighborhood emergency response, or serve in their neighborhood associations, parks or libraries, they help make our community a better place for all."

The city will honor volunteers Sunday as they walk the red carpet, enjoy a reception accompanied by the Sprague High School String Quartet and receive awards in Salem Public Library's Loucks Auditorium.

“Without volunteer support, reaching areas of need would be near impossible with our current staffing levels," Amanda Sitter, the city’s volunteer coordinator for Parks and Recreation, said. “Our highly used trail system would be in disarray, the formal gardens wouldn’t exist, the greenhouses would be closed, removing graffiti would be unattainable … Volunteers bring togetherness, and the community involvement is just as important for our staff as for them.”

Salem volunteer award recipients

These are the volunteers and groups who received awards from the city for their efforts.

• Al Loucks Business – Government Partnership Award : RiverCity Rock Star Academy

• Distinguished Project Award : Canine Corps

• Outstanding City Advisory Group Volunteer Award : Carlee Wright of Press Play Salem

• Outstanding Neighbor Award : Fairmount Emergency Readiness Team

• Outstanding Neighbor Award : Seleste Liyanage

• Salem Spirit Award : Brian Hart

• Salem Spirit Award: Make Music Salem

• Vern Miller Award : Linda Bierly

• Lisa Letney Award: Laura Crofoot

• At Your Service Award : James Callaway

• At Your Service Award : Larry Eshelman

• Mayor’s Youth Achievement Award : Delia Olmos-Garcia

• Mayor’s Merit Award : Brian Sund

• Mayor’s Merit Award : Salem Kawagoe Sister City Organization

• Richard Swyers Public Works Employee Award : Luke Westphal

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com , call 503-910-6616 or follow on X @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Meet the 15 winners of Salem's volunteer awards