A number of local corporations and groups got a jump on the holidays by staging events to assist the underprivileged.
And many nonprofit organizations hope that good will will continue through the new year.- For the third year, Mansell & Associates, an independent residential real estate brokerage, gave Nector's Restaurant, 979 S. State, a donation to help provide Thanksgiving dinner to those in need.
Nector's owner Chris Ritzakis said the money would purchase food and supplies including 40 40-lb. turkeys, pies and all the trimmings. The agents also volunteered to serve dinner and deliver food to people who are unable to travel to Nector's.
- TelAmerica long-distance company kicked off its "Phone Home for the Holidays" program by allowing homeless individuals staying in the Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center and patients at Primary Children's Hospital to make a free long-distance phone call anywhere in the continental United States.
TelAmerica manager Jack McDonald dressed as a pilgrim and visited room to room to provide the service to the hospitalized children.
- Not all trees need sunlight and water to grow. Some, like the "Giving Tree" at local Kmart stores just need the generosity of shoppers and the spirit of Christmas to flourish.
The tree, sponsored at each location by Kmart and KISN-FM invite shoppers to "adopt" one of the people on the tree and provide gifts, which will be wrapped and delivered in time for the holidays.
- The Children's Service Society hopes to pair two dozen needy families with gift-giving sponsors for the holidays. To adopt a child for Christmas, call the Society at 355-7444.
The society is Utah's oldest child welfare agency, serving the state since 1884. Since its earliest days as a day nursery and orphanage, the society has served the community as a nondenominational, private direct-service agency. They offer special-needs and infant adoptions, parenting classes and pregnancy counseling.
- South Jordan Super 8 Motel, 10722 S. 300 West, is once again extending a hospitable hand to people who will be in Utah for Christmas to visit loved ones staying at the Alta View or Jordan Valley hospitals.
The motel will provide free accommodations on Christmas Eve to out-of-town friends or relatives.
Reservations should be made through the two hospitals, which will notify the motel. Because rooms are limited, reservations should be made as early as possible.
- Residents at Salt Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 165 S. 1000 East, walked laps around the inside of the facility or took steps in physical therapy to raise money for the Utah Food Bank. Their efforts - at 50 cents a lap or 10 cents a step - raised $244.