{"id":11449,"date":"2026-10-20T00:33:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T00:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silvertonareacommunityaid.org\/?page_id=11449"},"modified":"2026-10-20T17:34:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T17:34:49","slug":"announcements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/silvertonareacommunityaid.org\/es\/announcements\/","title":{"rendered":"Announcements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Announcements<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Thank You, Sarah: A Leadership Transition at SACA<\/p><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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After 10 years as executive director of Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA), Sarah DeSantis is stepping into a new role as Program Officer for the Northern Willamette Valley at the Oregon Community Foundation.<\/p>\n

Her last day at SACA is Friday, October 23. Our doors stay open, our team is here, and our services continue without interruption.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

A note from our board<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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For several years, the board and Sarah have talked openly about her hope to one day take on something new. So when Sarah shared that she's been named Program Officer for the Northern Willamette Valley at the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), we weren't surprised. We were deeply proud.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We had hoped to keep Sarah with us as long as we could. She has led SACA with skill and heart for 10 years, and we know how fortunate we've been. But this is the right time, and we're thrilled for her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Under Sarah's leadership, SACA grew into the community hub it is today. She reimagined our food pantry as an open, shop-for-yourself space where neighbors choose what fits their household, and she brought trauma-informed care into everything we do. She expanded case management so more neighbors can work one-on-one with staff who walk alongside them to navigate systems and challenges. Sarah also grew our services to include a community laundry program, a weekend food program for kids, and Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) housing benefits. She strengthened our partnerships with organizations in and around the Silverton area, and she led SACA's move to our new home.<\/p>\n

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Sarah knew that a team that is well cared for can care for its community. She grew SACA to 11 staff members, including bilingual staff who make sure Spanish-speaking neighbors feel welcome from the moment they walk in. She also made sure the team was supported with better wages, paid time off, a wellness stipend, retirement savings, and flexible schedules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sarah will now bring her gifts to communities across the Northern Willamette Valley, including Marion County. So, the Silverton area will continue benefiting from Sarah’s wisdom, passion, creativity, and huge heart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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We'll miss Sarah greatly. Thank you, Sarah, for your years of care and service to SACA and to our neighbors.<\/p>\n

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SACA Board of Directors<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

A note from Sarah<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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To our SACA community,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After nearly 10 years as Executive Director at SACA, the time has come for me to step away and begin a new chapter – I’m moving on to the Oregon Community Foundation in November. An exciting beginning and a bittersweet goodbye.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This place and the people I’ve met along the way have shaped me in such a profound way. I am so grateful to have been a part of this organization for so many years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What I'll remember most isn't a program or a building. It's the people: neighbors who trusted us with their stories, volunteers who showed up week after week, donors who believed in what we could build together, and a staff with grit, resilience and so much heart for the people in this community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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SACA is in good hands. Our team is strong, our board is committed, and our community knows how to show up for each other. I could not be more proud of our work and our organization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Thank you for trusting me, for sharing your stories with me, for laughing with me, for crying with me, and for building community with me all these years. It has been my absolute honor to serve this community I love and call home. I am leaving SACA with a full and hopeful heart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Until we meet again,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sarah<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

What this means for SACA<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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