Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude and enjoy a delicious meal with loved ones. It’s also a time to remember those less fortunate and to lend a helping hand. If you’re wondering how you can help Utahns in need have a happy Thanksgiving this year, we’ve got a few great ideas.
1. Serve a Thanksgiving Meal with Salt Lake City Mission
Salt Lake City Mission is a nonprofit that has been serving the poor and homeless in the Salt Lake region for 30 years. They provide essentials like food, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items to those in need. To date, they’ve provided more than 6.29 million meals and distributed more than 6.64 million articles of clothing.
This year, Salt Lake City Mission has three ways volunteers can help Utahns in need have a happy Thanksgiving:
– On Friday, November 22, they could use help with their Thanksgiving Food Box Giveaway at their headquarters on 1151 S. Redwood Road from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (They will also be doing a Christmas Food Box Giveaway on Monday, December 23.)
– On Thanksgiving Day (as well as Christmas Day) from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers can help serve a Thanksgiving meal to Utahns in need at Central Christian Church, located at 1055 N. Redwood Road.
To volunteer for either of these opportunities, fill out their short volunteer application and indicate when you would like to help.
– If you are unable to volunteer, you can make an online donation.
2. Deliver Dinners with Thanksgiving Heroes
Rob Adams, founder of the nonprofit Thanksgiving Heroes, know firsthand what it’s like to be hungry during the holidays. At one point, while growing up, Adams and his entire family lived in their pickup truck.
Now, Adams has made it his mission that there are no hungry families on Thanksgiving.
On Saturday, November 24, volunteers will gather in Murray to pack Thanksgiving meal boxes and then deliver them to families in need. Click here to sign up.
Adams says they are also still in urgent need of monetary donations.
“We’re running low on donations, and every dollar counts,” Thanksgiving Heroes said in a recent social media post. “A small gesture goes a long way! Just $10 can buy a pie and toppings, making a meaningful difference for a family in need. Let’s join hands to spread joy and warmth this holiday season.”
To donate to Thanksgiving Heroes, click here.
3. Run in the Family-Friendly Utah Human Race
Utah Food Bank has been fighting hunger in the Beehive State for 120 years. Last year alone, the nonprofit distributed 65.5 million pounds of food (54.6 million meals) through their network of 270 emergency food pantries and agencies throughout Utah.
For almost 20 years, Utah Food Bank has also hosted their annual Utah Human Race, a family-friendly 5K/10K fun run that takes place on the morning of Thanksgiving. The event is open to ages and abilities and attracts more than 5,000 participants, and all proceeds directly benefit Utah Food Bank’s mission to fight hunger statewide. The cost of the 5K is $30, and the 10K is $35.
So, ready to fight hunger with your feet? Register for the race here.
Not able to participate? Donations are always welcome.
4. Donate Food or Money to Tabitha’s Way or Utah Food Bank
With three food pantry locations throughout Utah County, 90 percent of the food provided by Tabitha’s Way comes from local food donations. The most-needed items are usually canned meats, canned beans, canned soups, peanut butter, rice, noodles, sugar, and flour. To learn what food is in most demand and how to donate, check with the specific location:
Spanish Fork
Pleasant Grove
Saratoga Springs
Utah Food Bank has four food drop-off locations throughout the state: Salt Lake City, Springville, St. George, and Blanding. Click here for addresses and hours.
Financial donations are also appreciated for both Tabitha’s Way and Utah Food Bank. In fact, they are able to make a dollar stretch much further than you could on your own. Tabitha’s Way states that it can provide a nutritious meal for just 20 cents, and Utah Food Bank reports that every dollar donated results in $7.80 worth of goods and services for Utahns facing hunger.
5. Encourage Those in Need to Go to the Salt Palace for a Free Meal and Community Resources on November 25
On Monday, November 25, starting at 4 p.m., the Larry H. Miller Company and the Miller family will host the 26th Annual Season of Service Thanksgiving Meal and Community Resource Event. They will provide more than 3,000 Thanksgiving meals and access to community resources for individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Salt Lake County.
The Larry H. Miller Company and the Miller family are partnering with Salt Lake County to provide meals and a wide range of community services to guests, including:
- Clark Planetarium: children’s activity
- Clean Slate Utah: record expungement
- Connect2Health: community resources
- Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum: children’s activity
- Fourth Street Clinic: healthcare, mental health services and resources
- Friends for Sight: vision screenings
- Huntsman Mental Health Foundation: Mental Health and Substance Use
Disorder Resources - Intermountain Health: breast cancer screening information
- Ruff Haven: veterinary services
- Salt Lake City Public Library: free books
- Salt Lake County Youth Services: children’s activity
- Thanksgiving Point: children’s activity
- The Bicycle Collective: bike check and tune-ups
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: free care kits
- The Humane Society of Utah: pet sitting and resources
- The Policy Project’s Period Project: menstrual hygiene kits
- The Salt Lake City Mission: free clothing items
- United Way 211: community resources
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: dental services
- University of Utah’s Driving out Diabetes Initiative: diabetes screenings
- UTA: complimentary transit passes
- Utah Naloxone: overdose prevention and treatment resources
- Volunteers of America, Utah: haircuts and community resources
► You’ll also like: Thanksgiving Heroes: Delivering Dinner to Families in Need
