Family Building Blocks
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We partner with families with children prenatal through five years in Marion and Polk counties. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S.
Founded in Salem, Oregon in 1997, Family Building Blocks is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and certified Relief Nursery committed to "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" in Marion and Polk Counties. Family Building Blocks has grown significantly since our founding as a Relief Nursery in 1997. From our humble start as a small, church basement operation, we have grown into a well-established social services agency serving over 1,300 children and 850 families from nine locations throughout Marion and Polk counties, with a $11 million annual budget. We operate several family strengthening and early childhood programs led by over 125 employees, and supported by 400 volunteers and 1,900 donors annually. At the height of a meth epidemic in the mid-1990’s and amidst weekly reports of devastating cases of child abuse and neglect in Marion County, a group of concerned community members including Sue Miller, Deanna Smith, and Dick Withnell visited the Relief Nursery in Eugene, Oregon. Eugene’s Relief Nursery was established in the 1970’s and was the first of its kind in Oregon. Inspired by the model and outcomes, these outstanding citizens started mobilizing support to establish a Relief Nursery in Salem. The Oregon Commission of Children and Families received a Federal Health & Human Services grant in 1996 which provided start-up funding. In September 1997, Family Building Blocks began operating therapeutic classrooms at the United Methodist Church. We are indebted to Sue Miller’s vision and her dedication to children and families. Sue served as our founding Executive Director and her strong leadership guided the organization for 16 years. Family Building Blocks has provided Relief Nursery services since 1997, Healthy Families services since 2003, Early Head Start since 2010, and Family Mental Health since 2020. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
10/05/2026
💛 THERE IS STILL TIME TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK! We would love to have you attend our annual Dream Builders Luncheon on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at noon at the Salem Convention Center. 💛
Michelle, a parent who partnered with Family Building Blocks over 10 years ago, will be sharing a small piece of her story and the impactful role Family Building Blocks played in it. We are honored to be small part of her and her family's journey, and grateful for the opportunity to share it with our community.
There is no cost to attend. RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!
https://familybuildingblocks.org/dream-builders-luncheon-rsvp/
10/01/2026
✨ ❄️HAPPY OCTOBER 1! Tickets for Gala of Trees are officially ON SALE! ✨ ❄️
Join us for Gala of Trees on Friday, December 4, at the Salem Convention Center for a festive evening filled with beautifully decorated holiday trees, live and silent auction items, and plenty of holiday magic all while supporting children and families in our community.
Last year’s Gala SOLD OUT, so grab your tickets early and make Gala of Trees your official kickoff to the holiday season! ❤️🎄
🎟️ ➡️ Tickets: https://familybuildingblocks.org/galaoftrees/
09/29/2026
🏓 This past weekend Family Building Blocks held the (second ever!) Young Leaders Council Pickleball Tournament. 🎉
What an amazing day! A huge THANK YOU to every player, team, sponsor, volunteer, and family member who showed up and to our Young Leaders Council for leading the way! Every dollar raised at this tournament will support children and families in our community.
Special thanks to our event sponsors and supporters:
💛 Venue: Illahe Hills Country Club
💛 Hydration Station: Dalke Construction
💛 Social Media: Kite String Consulting
💛 Swag Bags: Kopper Works Electric with support from Affordable Framing and BiaBlends and Chick-fil-A Kuebler
💛 W**e: Bryn Mawr Vineyards
💛 Food Service: Lively Station
💛 Door Prize: Signed Paddle from Pickleball pro Wes Gabrielsen
Thank you for supporting this growing event! Thank you for "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" with Family Building Blocks. ❤️💙💛
Excited to start planning YEAR 3! 🏆
09/24/2026
Join us Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 at the Salem Convention Center for Dream Builders Luncheon 2026! This free event is a wonderful opportunity to connect, be inspired, and make a lasting impact on children and families in our community. This year, every new and renewed Dream Builder's first year donation will be matched by the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund!
Read more about Dream Builders and what they mean to Family Building Blocks here: https://familybuildingblocks.org/news/match-opportunity-at-dream-builders-lunch/
If you have any questions, connect with Claudia at [email protected] or 503-566-2132 or RSVP here: https://familybuildingblocks.org/dream-builders-luncheon-rsvp/
09/23/2026
💙 THANK YOU! We are incredibly grateful to the Marion County Commissioners for welcoming Executive Director, Patrice Altenhofen, and Woodburn Place Site Supervisor, Sulema Ochoa, to speak at their meeting today. Family Building Blocks was awarded a Community Development Block Grant to support our expansion project in Woodburn!
Our commitment to children and families in North Marion county began when we did, and we are ready to continuing growing alongside this community! We are so excited to start our work expanding services and partnerships in the Woodburn area, creating additional classroom space, adding more mental health services, and increasing our ability to reach more children and families.
We are excited to share more details about this project soon! Thank you, Marion County, for "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" with Family Building Blocks! 💙💛❤️
09/18/2026
Family Building Blocks Summer Family Night 2026 is a wrap! 💙📚✨
Our Family Nights are private events that create an opportunity for the children and families we partner with to come together in community with each other, as well as with Family Building Blocks staff and volunteers.
This year, we welcomed around 480 guests, including more than 100 families and 400 children, along with our wonderful volunteers and staff, for a special evening together at Salem’s Riverfront Park and Carousel.
The park was full of laughter and connection as families enjoyed a delicious meal together - special thank you to our local partners at Comcast Infinity for grilling up our burgers and hot dogs, to our Food Service Team for creating the sides, and to our staff and volunteers serving and assisting families to make sure all our families had what they needed!
Our team loved sharing book-themed games and activities, photos at our photo booth, face painting, and carousel rides. Every child was able to take a book (or two!) home. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this evening so special! We are incredibly grateful for the volunteers, staff, and community members who show up to support children and families. ❤️💙💛
Until next year!
09/16/2026
💛 ✨ Just under a month to Dream Builders Luncheon 2026 and we would love to see you there!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors for helping make this event possible! Your generosity and commitment to children and families strengthen our community and help Family Building Blocks continue creating brighter futures. We’re so grateful for your partnership and for standing alongside us in support of local families. 💙 ✨
Presenting Sponsor: Bonaventure Senior Living
Engaging Sponsors: Kaiser Permanente Legacy Health Saalfeld Griggs PC Willamette Health Council
Contributing Sponsors: Green Acres Landscape, Inc. GA At Home
Heltzel Williams PC PacificSource Salem Electric ServiceMaster of Salem Sherman Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt, LLP Summit Wealth Management TeamLogic IT Valley Credit Union Willamette Valley Bank
First Time Sponsors: Guild Mortgage, Human Interest
RSVP here: https://familybuildingblocks.org/dream-builders-luncheon-rsvp/
Thank you all for "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" with Family Building Blocks. 💛❤️💙
09/15/2026
🎄❤️ LET'S DECORATE! Gala of Trees 2026 planning is in full swing! ❤️🎄
Join us as a volunteer Tree Decorator at Gala 2026, taking place Friday, December 4 at the Salem Convention Center! Our amazing decorators and designers are the heart of our event, creating fabulous trees and prize packages to be auctioned off in support of our mission to “Keep Children Safe and Families Together.”
We have options to become Live Tree decorators or Silent Auction Tree decorators. Trees, lights, and stands provided by Family Building Blocks, YOU bring your creative magic! Comment below for more info or connect with Kat at [email protected] to secure or learn more about being part of the magic! ✨
09/14/2026
🧸 September Impact from Family Building Blocks! 🧸
Join us to make an impact this fall! Read more here: https://conta.cc/4gNv6bQ
Highlights include:
💙 VOLUNTEER with us at our literacy-themed Summer Family Night on September 17
🏓 PLAY Pickleball with our Young Leaders Council on September 26
💛 RSVP to attend our annual Builders Luncheon 2026 on October 13
🎄 SECURE your spot to decorate a TREE at Gala of Trees 2026
Read more here: https://conta.cc/4gNv6bQ
Join us this fall as we build brighter futures for children and families in our community! Thank you for "Keeping Children Safe and Families Together" with Family Building Blocks. ❤️
0-0-2 - Year Two of Pickleball!! Our 2026 Family Building Blocks YLC Pickleball is almost SOLD OUT! Join us Saturday, September 26 at Illahe Hills Country Club from Noon - 4:00 PM. All proceeds will benefit children and families in our community!
🫶 Special thanks to one of our favorite Pickleball players and Gala of Trees Emcee, Charles Weathers, for the assist with the video!
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Address
Main Office: 2425 Lancaster Drive NE
Salem, OR
97305
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
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