Crossroads Urban Center hopes to provide a Christmas meal to thousands of needy Utahns. Donations for the holiday food distribution can be brought to the center, 347 S. 400 East. The center is asking for all holiday foods, including turkeys, and needs the donations by Wednesday, Dec. 21.
The food will be distributed at Salt Lake Community High School from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.Clients need to bring identification for all members of their household. Adults need picture IDs, while birth certificates, medical or immunization cards or lease agreements will identify children. Social Security cards are not acceptable. For information, call 364-7765.
Other holiday activities - and opportunities to reach out to those in need - abound. Among them:
- The Utah State Hospital and Wasatch Mental Health Center still desperately need sponsors for the Forgotten Patient Christmas Project. There are 105 patients who will not have Christmas without the help of the community. The patients range in age from 18 to 90.
Sponsors can purchase gifts and deliver them (the hospital will provide a list of gift suggestions and information about the patient) or they can donate money and volunteers will take care of it. For information, call the Utah State Hospital at 344-4254.
- The South Jordan Super 8 Motel, 10722 S. 300 West, is participating in the motel chain's fifth annual "Rooms at the Inn" holiday program by offering free accommodations on Christmas Eve to friends or relatives of patients in Alta View Hospital.
Reservations should be made through the hospital, which will notify the hotel. Because of limited room, reservations should be made as early as possible.
- If you're tired of that old car clunking around, call the National Kidney Foundation of Utah before Dec. 31 and it will gladly tow the vehicle away and give you a receipt for a tax deduction. The car will be sold at auction, parted out or recycled, and the proceeds all go to benefit Utah kidney patients. Call 1-800-869-5277.
- Uintah Elementary second-graders plan to donate two handmade quilts to the Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center.