Salt Lake Chamber: Help Those In Need This Holiday Season

Salt Lake City UT

03 December, 2021

1:36 PM

Description

Press release from the Salt Lake Chamber: MBomis 2021-12-02 The holiday season is upon us and many people are looking for ways to give back and help others. Here are a few ways you can make a difference and help those who need it. Donate to Candy Cane Corner Candy Cane Corner helps clients who are experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or addiction that need assistance getting Christmas gifts for their children. Starting the first week of December, a case manager takes parents to the store and helps them select gifts for their kids and themselves. This program represents a partnership between Volunteers of America, Utah and The Road Home. Each year it accepts donations of money and items from their wish list. The organization also needs volunteers to sort donations, wrap gifts and staff the shop. In-kind donations go directly to clients. While monetary donations made online or by check give the organizations the flexibility to purchase needed items and cover low overhead expenses. Additionally, at the end of each Candy Cane Corner season, a small amount is reserved to start up the store the following year.  Donate at the Giving Machine Start a new tradition this year by visiting the Giving Machine located at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square. Rather than buying something for yourself from this vending machine, you can choose to donate something to someone else. With the swipe of a credit card, you can donate whatever you choose — choices include textbooks, chickens, shoes, a dose of the polio vaccine, and even meals for a homeless shelter. The donation amounts range from $2 to $320, making it simple to choose something that fits into your budget. In 2019, donations topped more than $6 million from 10 different machine locations around the globe. The website is updated daily with the amount raised. Host a Virtual Food Drive  Since 1904, the Utah Food Bank has been "Fighting Hunger Statewide." They say 1 in 8 Utahns are at risk of missing a meal on any given day. Last year, the organization says they were able to distribute the equivalent of 70.2 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 58.5 million meals to people throughout the state. You can help by donating food directly to the food bank or hosting a food drive. A new, innovative way of hosting a drive is by starting a Virtual Food Drive, which allows people to shop from a list of needed items online without having to drive to a store or to the food bank. Attend the Festival of Trees The Festival of Trees is an annual holiday tradition celebrating children's health in our community. We welcome you to experience four festive days dedicated to raising money for Primary Children's Hospital from the comfort of your own home.Volunteers create and donate some of the most beautiful holiday decorations; decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, playhouses, centerpieces, quilts, gingerbread houses and more. Many of which are available via the Online Auction and Gift Boutique. Find your festive spirit and support children in need. All proceeds benefit the Primary Children's Hospital. Support the Chamber's Leadership Utah Donation Drive The Salt Lake Chamber's 2022 Leadership Utah Class is collecting donations this holiday season for the Utah Food Bank and Catholic Community Services Migration & Refugee Program. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please see below for suggested donations. Donations are to be dropped off at the Salt Lake Chamber by December 9, 2021. Additional opportunities include: If you would like to have your charitable event, drive or program mentioned, please contact [email protected].  This press release was produced by the Salt Lake Chamber. The views expressed are the author's own.