Salem India Wellness Community, an initiative of HWY Foundation, brings people together through shared interests, cultural connections, service, and wellness. As we prepare for 2027, we want everyone to understand how our WhatsApp groups work, how activities develop, and how you can participate.
Start by joining and staying in our main WhatsApp group: Salem, Oregon, India Wellness Community. Then request to join the smaller groups that interest you.
Why our main group includes Oregon in its name
Our community is based in Salem, Oregon. Because there is also a Salem in India, we include “Oregon” in the main group’s name to help people find the right community and avoid confusion.
The main group is our most active gathering place online. We share major announcements, community updates, and upcoming event information there. Even when you join smaller groups, please remain in the main group to stay connected to the wider community.
One community with different ways to participate
Think of Salem India Wellness Community as a hub. The main group keeps us connected, while smaller groups help people explore particular interests, find support, and organize activities together.
You do not need to join every group. Choose the groups that are meaningful or useful to you and request to join them.
Some groups have regular conversations. Others become active when members suggest an activity, a volunteer steps forward to lead, or an event approaches. A quiet group is still a place for future connections and ideas. These opportunities grow through community interest and participation.
Find a group that fits your interests
Indian Traditional Music and Arts Lovers:
Connect music and arts enthusiasts in Salem and nearby areas, including Eugene, Corvallis, and Portland. Explore opportunities to invite artists and bring performances to Salem as interest and resources develop.
Home Projects and Gardening:
Exchange gardening ideas, home maintenance experiences, and local service recommendations. Members have already helped one another find referrals. Recommendations reflect individual experiences; please check suitability before hiring.
Spiritual Wellness and Temple Support:
Connect people interested in spiritual gatherings and temple support. Explore weekly or monthly gatherings and discuss the possibility of a future temple. These are ideas to develop together, rather than confirmed projects.
Community Mentors and Activity Leaders:
Bring together people willing to teach, share a skill, or lead an activity. Music, art, and other interests can become opportunities for community learning.
Indian Volunteer Group:
Connect members who want to volunteer, support local causes, and build relationships with the wider Salem community.
Salem Newcomer Support Group:
Help people who arrived within the past year meet other newcomers, exchange practical information, and build local connections. As members become established, they can transition out while staying connected through the main group.
Men’s Health and Fitness:
Provide a space for conversations about men’s health, fitness, and shared activities.
Salem Indian Under Ten Kids Group:
Connect parents of children under ten, share local programs, and explore activities for younger children.
Business Interest Support Group:
Bring business owners and people interested in business together to exchange ideas and support one another.
Healthcare Workers Group:
Help community members working in healthcare connect and exchange professional interests and ideas.
Indian Older Adults and Visiting Parents Support Group:
Offer a place for older adults, visiting parents from India, and their families to connect. Participation is currently limited, and the group can develop as more families become involved.
Salem India Wellness Community Donors Group:
Connect financial supporters, including people contributing as little as $5. We may share additional planning updates, early ideas, and informal polls before wider announcements.
Some smaller groups help people coordinate a specific activity like:
Birdwatching and hobby enthusiasts: Share opportunities for walks and birdwatching, particularly in summer.
Cup of Joe breakfast: Coordinate participation around the breakfast activity, anticipated in March.
Awesome 3000: Connect families interested in participating in the Salem children’s event.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s: Coordinate community participation around the walk.
These groups may be quiet for much of the year and become active when it is time to plan or participate. They help people find others interested in an activity and keep its detailed planning conversations together.
How activities develop
There are two ways to take part in our plans.
Community events: We will post our tentative 2027 calendar in the Events section of our website. Our goal is to organize one main community event each month. Dates and activities may change as arrangements are confirmed.
Activities through interest groups: Members can suggest ideas, connect with others, and work with willing leaders or volunteers to develop activities. An interest group creates a starting point; activities depend on participation, available time, and resources.
You do not need to be an experienced organizer to contribute. You might share a skill, suggest an outing, welcome families, or assist with one part of an event.
Help support the activities and the work behind them
We request a voluntary donation of $10 per family per month, or $120 per year, to support our community and the foundation’s ongoing work.
Donations help cover community activities and the everyday costs of running an organization, including:
Venue rentals, food, and activity supplies.
Websites, blog tools, and other technology.
Banking fees and accounting.
Annual foundation costs and other operating expenses.
These services help us communicate, organize activities, manage funds, and maintain the foundation year-round.
Donating is optional. Participation is not dependent on a contribution. Give what you can; smaller contributions are welcome. Time, skills, and volunteer support are also valuable ways to contribute.
The Donors Group helps us stay connected with supporters and may offer additional opportunities to hear about planning and provide feedback. We'll continue to share major community announcements in the main group.
Take your next step
Stay in the main WhatsApp group, request to join the interest groups that suit you, and watch for the tentative 2027 calendar on our website. Share an idea, offer a skill, volunteer when you can, or support the work with a donation.
Our community grows through the people who participate. Each connection helps create more opportunities for friendship, culture, learning, service, and wellness here in Salem, Oregon.
Are you interested in joining our community? Here is the request to join our community: https://www.indiansinsalemor.com/consent
Thank you for your time and support! We hope to see you soon. Namaste!
