More than 6,500 pies to be delivered to Salem-Keizer teachers and staff

The Salem Leadership Foundation, Willamette Valley Pie Co. and other local organizations have teamed up to give more than 6,500 pies to Salem-Keizer Public Schools teachers and staff on Wednesday.

A total of 6,540 mini pies will be delivered on Wednesday by the Salem Leadership Foundation and volunteers.

The project has been in the works for the last four months, said Andrew Martin, Willamette Valley Pie Co.'s director of branded sales. The pies will be organized at Salem First Church of the Nazarene on Tuesday. Pie flavors include cherry, apple, strawberry rhubarb and peach.

Salem Leadership Foundation led the project to purchase the pies from Willamette Valley Pie Co. The cost for all those pies? $38,000, which is a reduced cost by the pie company. Organizations that donated to help make the purchase include Salem Leadership Foundation, Willamette Health Council, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Maps Community Foundation and Capitol Auto Group, said Jackie Franke, volunteer coordinator for the project said.

The project comes after contentious contract negotiations between teachers and the district and layoffs that will happen at the end of the school year because of a budget shortfall. Martin said the district, teachers and staff has gone through a "lot of turmoil" and the pies are a gesture to support them.

"Everybody was so excited to do something nice, not just for teachers but all of the staff whether they were janitors, bus drivers, everyone," Franke said. "The following week is national Teacher Appreciation Week, so we're just kicking off the month."

Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on X @catchuptoemily.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: 6,540 pies will be delivered to Salem-Keizer Public Schools staff