Refugee families, homeless get help from Utah LGBT community

It was a moving experience for Proiscilla Vellmie — both figuratively and literally — when four men she didn't know showed up Saturday eager to help her family move to their new apartment.

"I just want to thank them," Vellmie said as she wiped away tears. "I think I am blessed for them to help me."

The Liberian refugee, along with her mother and two teenage daughters, had to move into a different unit within her Salt Lake City complex because her existing apartment was handicap accessible and needed for that purpose. But the petite Vellmie, who travels by bus three times a week for dialysis while she awaits a double transplant for kidney and liver failure, is not in any condition to move.

"Most of us have strong support systems," said Amy Wylie, volunteer coordinator for Utah Refugee Services. "We have family and neighbors to help us move."

Refugees usually don't have that same support system, Wylie said.

That is where volunteers come in — and Saturday they came in the form of the men and women from Utah's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community as part of their General Service Weekend.

The service project, initially slated to take place the same weekend as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' general conference, was postponed a week due to inclement weather. In the weeks leading up to conference, e-mails and rumors were circulating about the LGBT community staging a protest over the church's opposition to gay marriage, but organizer and gay-rights activist Jacob Whipple said he never had any such plans.

"There's no need to protest (the LDS Church)," Whipple said. "My fight is not with the Mormon Church. My fight is to help Utah pass LGBT-friendly legislation."

There was, however, no fight for the 40 people who showed up to complete community service in locations around Salt Lake and Ogden on Saturday — just a desire to help and give back to the community.

"The main message we're trying to send is that the LGBT community is a vital and productive group in our society," Whipple said. "Acts of kindness will reap acts of kindness."

In addition to helping Vellmie and other refugee families with projects, the LGBT group cleaned up parks, planted gardens and served food to the homeless.

"Anybody else who would like to help, please contact me," Wylie said. "Every single week we could use the help."

Those interested in volunteering can call 801-526-9775 or e-mail awylie@utah.gov.

E-mail: kkuhn@desnews.com