Salado Family Relief Fund got its start more than two decades when Marilyn Fleischer saw two Salado school employees carrying used toys into the Salado fire station one December.
“I saw the late Mary Ribeiro and Dana Britt, who both worked at Salado schools, hauling big trashbags of stuff into the fire station by the Church of Christ,” Marilyn said. “Being nosy, I walked over to see what they were doing. They were collecting used stuff animals, clothes and toys to give to the kids in the Salado school that they knew day-to-day who were in need. I did not know there was such a need and there was no real program to serve these families. I wanted to help, so for the next Christmas, we got a head start.”
Working with Ribeiro and Britt, Marilyn promoted the Christmas gift project through the Salado Village Voice newspaper and contacted local churches and civic organizations like the Ladies Auxiliary and Salado Lions Club, this time for new gifts and clothes.
“The response from the area churches and individuals was tremendous. We were able to build on the quiet charity that two Salado school employees showed and connect it to a wider community of givers.”
Salado Family Relief Fund is rooted in this loose coalition of volunteers and churches and continues to work with churches, volunteers, civic groups and businesses to serve the Salado community. Salado Family Relief Fund became a 501(c)3 corporation in 1997 after the Jarrell tornado struck that community.
When the Jarrell tornado hit, barely missing Salado. “We knew there was a bigger need at that time, so we worked to collect donations from local citizens and groups. It was more than we expected and we knew it was time to get organized,” Marilyn said.
“Money was flooding in and we knew we had to become tax-deductible and incorporate,” founding president Marilyn Fleischer said. “The Jarrell tornado was the catalyst.”
That was when she worked with groups like the Ladies Auxiliary, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Salado Rotary Club and local churches to formalize a board and an organization.
Eldon Miller did all of the legal paperwork to make the Salado Family Relief Fund a 501(c)3 charitable organization. He was the first Treasurer of the Board and Marilyn was the first President.
Salado Family Relief Fund has had a dedicated board of directors ever since with many who have given of their time and treasure over the span of a quarter of a century. Leigh (Drake) Ihrie followed as the second President. Mary Catherine Ervin was the third President. Renee Oas was the fourth. JR Lett is the new President of the Board of Directors that oversees and manages the annual projects of the Salado Family Relief Fund.
If you would like to become involved with the Salado Family Relief Fund, email here.