Refugees, homeless getting help in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — More refuge for refugees, boots for those who live life walking, teddy bears for kids without cribs, backpacks for folks who get through the season with what they can carry and new equipment for the most popular after-school clubs are on the Christmas lists this week for giving-minded people.

Riley Elementary School students are making sure that area refugees get some holiday cheer and some help with day-to-day survival that will last well into the new year.

Students, in collaboration with Lutheran Social Services of Utah, are doing what they can for about 1,300 refugees who have lost jobs recently or who are working but are often paid far less than a living wage.

"Generosity, even in tough times, is amazing in Utah," said Holiday Essentials donation drive co-organizer Leslie Whited. "This offers an opportunity to reach out with tangible goods and goodwill to people of every land living here in Utah."

The need for emergency food and shelter has increased between 30 percent and 48 percent compared with a year ago, according to local shelter and food bank managers.

To help, donations of cash and new and slightly used clothing suitable for all ages are needed, along with nonperishable food. Items can be taken to the Holiday Essentials Manna Market, 4392 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City. Call 801-721-2641 for more information.

More than 500 homeless and low-income people will have new pairs of boots, thanks to a donation by levelninesports.com, an online winter sports equipment retailer.

The "Booting Homelessness" event will coincide with the Salt Lake Rescue Mission's annual Christmas dinner for the homeless Dec. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Levelninesports.com has donated 880 pairs of new boots, with other, smaller donors providing about 150 more.

Boots are probably the most popular gift someone can give to a homeless person, said Chris D. Croswhite, the rescue mission's executive director. Walking is the No. 1 mode of transportation for most homeless people, and they usually only get well-worn or even worn-out shoes to choose from, he said.

The mission is expecting a record or near record crowd for the annual dinner, particularly because of the boot giveaway. As usual, the mission will also give away clothes, free haircuts and hygiene items.

Levelninesports.com donates at least 10 percent of its profits to various charities.