Walery's Pizza Shows Local Support Fundraising for NWHS

Northwest Human Services helps with Medical, Dental, Mental Health care and social services for those in need.

Dave Walery, of Walery's Pizza in West Salem, displays some of the most delectable pizzas known to mankind. Photo by Bonnie King

(SALEM, Ore.) - There was a party going on in West Salem today, and it all had to do with the best pizza around. Hungry people always find their way to Walery's, but today was special. A portion of the proceeds at Walery's Pizza were donated to Northwest Human Services' Youth and Family program.

NWHS volunteers bused tables and delivered dessert to the very well-fed customers.

Many locals will remember the humble beginnings of Northwest Human Services. It is a private non profit, literally born out of the need of the street folks of Salem.

First, it was just a hotline, created to give information for all the young people going to the Vortex concert (see: Vortex History).

Then volunteers realized that most of the calls were from locals who just needed someone to listen, and help, so the "Hotline" was formally established as a 24/7 crisis line. Now they also offer Emergency shelter for runaway youth, and transitional programs so they can move forward with their lives.

Northwest Human Services was called the "Cry of Love Free Clinic" in the early 70's, named after a popular Jimi Hendrix album. Two UCLA medical students had interned with Marion County Health Department and were appalled by the lack of health care services available to the low-income and homeless. They came up with a solution.

The students, Phil Yule and Paul Kaplan, requested the assistance of the health department, and they opened "The Cry of Love Free Clinic" to serve disadvantaged populations in Marion and Polk Counties.

Later, The Cry of Love Free Clinic became the West Bank Health Network, then the West Salem Clinic, as it is currently.

In 1982 the agency as a whole took on the name 'Northwest Human Services' in an effort to move with the times and away from its counter-culture image, but the mission remains the same.

It takes a whole community to ensure that all are well. Because of Northwest Human Services, underprivileged citizens are treated with respect and compassion in Salem, Oregon.

Because of people like Dave and Marsha at Walery's Pizza, and other businesses that strongly support the community at large, the future of NWHS remains brighter than ever.

Should anyone you know be in need, please share this number with them:

Crisis Line: 503-581-5535