CREATING COMMUNITY

Since 2017, the Salem nonprofit Root has fed the community both literally and figuratively, graduating 124 young people from its 14-week food service job training and life skills program, while also putting those students and alumni to work in its BONS-winning catering and event space services, its café, and at its free monthly “Meet and Eat” community meal program.

But on March 13, 2020, the COVID-19 shutdown forced Root to hit pause on its