A 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy received his first wheelchair just in time for Christmas.
The Salt Lake Chapter of the International Footprint Association (a law-enforcement support group) raised the money to purchase the wheelchair for Obed Baltazar.- Christmas giving extended beyond the borders of America - and indeed, the continent - as three Salt Lake Community College student nurses, a nurse practitioner instructor and an administrator set up a health clinic in a small village in the coastal region of Kenya to administer medical care and aid from Dec. 24 to Jan. 10.
The student nurses are Charlene Russell, Teresa Wilson and Margaret Smith, who will be accompanied by instructor Wendy MacLaughlin Whitney and administrator Geoffrey Brugger.
- Dillard Department Stores raised $150,000 to help families of seriously ill children at the Ronald McDonald House this holiday season. The check will benefit houses in more than 21 states, including Utah.
- First Interstate Bank got into the holiday spirit in a big way, collecting food and money to benefit the Utah Food Bank, the Salvation Army and The Children's Center.
During the annual food drive, bank employees contributed 10 boxes of food and about $625 to the food bank. The annual toy contest brought in $346 and eight teddy bears, dressed and decorated by employees, for the Salvation Army. The army also received contributions through the Points for People program.
- The All Pet Complex Hospital and Health Center ambulance delivered food to animals being cared for and sheltered by Salt Lake County Animal Services. Then it stopped at the homes of senior citizens who have pets and provided food, vitamins, pet literature and a gift certificate entitling pets to a free physical exam and annual vaccinations.
- HealthTrust Utah decided to send simple corporate gifts this year and use the money saved to buy presents for people served by the Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center, Marillac House, YWCA Battered Women's Shelter and the Ogden Rescue Mission.
- The Jewish community and their friends are serving dinner to the residents of the homeless shelter on Christmas Day from noon to 2 p.m.
- The Sugar Plum Fairy entertained first- through third-graders from the Guadalupe Schools in a Christmas tree dedication at Triad Center's outdoor ice rink last week. Just before the dedication, the children attended Ballet West's performance of "The Nutcracker" at the Capitol Theatre.
- Santa Claus and Gold Cross employees loaded gifts into an ambulance to deliver them to two families this year.
- Russia-Utah Friendship, a group of youths from the two countries who provide community service, came from all over the state Friday to help Crossroads Urban Center distribute food packages. The annual food giveaway tries to make sure that poor families will have the ingredients for a traditional holiday meal.
- The Utah Chapter of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse received 600 video tapes on child-abuse prevention. The gift, provided through the efforts of the 34-member Impact International Lift-Off 80, is valued at $300,000.
"Come in from the Storm" uses well-know television personalities to get its anti-abuse message across and is used extensively by the committee.