At no time does a community's needs shine through more clearly than during the holiday season. And there's no better time to point out the efforts that people make to help both strangers and their neighbors meet basic needs.
A lot of Utahns are giving Santa Claus a hand:- The Utah Food Bank's "Bag 'n' Hunger" campaign at The Factory Stores in Park City ended Dec. 9 with collection of more than 600 pounds of nonperishable food and more than $180 in donations to fight statewide hunger. The food bank is able to double the value of donations because it can buy food at a discount.
Brenda Thompson estimates that Utah is home to more than 31,000 children under age 12 who are hungry. The bank distributes more than 4 million pounds of food every year to local pantries and agencies that feed the poor.
- Sam's Club, UTA, Jerry Seiner, McDonald's and WalMart teamed up to raise $25,000 to take 250 low-income kids in the Salt lake Valley shopping. The "Sam's Santa Club" shopping spree will be held Saturday, Dec. 17. Children have been selected to participate through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Salt Lake and Murray, Colors and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Salt Lake.
- Santa Claus is busy making public appearances, and Wednesday he showed up at the Central Office of Family Support.
Sponsored by the Human Services office, children visited with the bilingual Santa and received a package of fresh fruit and a keepsake photograph.
The event was made possible in part by donations from Albertsons, Harmons, New Frontiers, Reams, Smith's, A and Z, ABC, Colosimo's, Condies and Laudures.
- Hunter High students are hoping to raise "millions of pennies" to benefit the homeless staying at the Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center. The school has set a goal of $10,000.
- Christmas came early for Utah Youth Village, when the Salt Lake Rotary Club, with help from Rick Warner Truckland, donated a 15-passenger van. It will be used by the organization's Kearns North Group Home, one of four group homes serving the needs of youth ranging from 10 to 18 years of age.
Earlier this month, Lefavi Financial Center donated and helped decorate the village's Christmas tree, featuring edible ornaments.
- More than 750 children who live below the poverty line have signed up for Christmas help through the Forgotten Patients Toy Project, sponsored by the Utah Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Most of the children have parents with a mental illness, but some of the children have a mental illness. To help, call 484-7845.