COVID-19 breaks out in northern Utah; parish begins collecting donations to help families

Friday, Jun. 12, 2020

HYDE PARK — Last weekend, Utah reported the largest single-day increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Many of those cases came in connection with an outbreak at a meatpacking plant in northern Utah.

Health officials are investigating the outbreak of cases at the meatpacking facility in the Bear River Health District, which covers Cache, Rich and Box Elder counties.

Immediately after receiving the news, the clergy at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish started a collection for the infected families. 

“They have tested around 1,200 people; out of this, it is expected that around 800 will be positive, so we saw that the need was going to be really high,” said Fr. Rogelio Felix Rosas, the parish’s parochial vicar.

Fr. Felix, along with pastor Fr. Joshua Santos, is organizing the donations.

With a group of parishioners, both priests started asking for donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items for the families.

Rice, beans, canned food, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, diapers and baby formula are among the most needed items.

“We are here to support each other,” Fr. Felix said. “We are all part of this community. First, because we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and second, because if we want people to really stay at home, we need to be in solidarity with them. ... They won’t have food, they won’t have income. So if we are asking them to stay home and avoid transmitting the virus to others, we have to support them.” 

Protecting the people who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus protects the community as a whole, he said.

“We need to have compassion and be in solidarity with them, so any donation counts,” he said.

Donations are being accepted around the clock at the parish’s Newman Center in Logan. People also may drop off goods at the parish social hall daily until 9 p.m., or at a truck at the rectory.

In addition to collecting donations, the priests are coordinating with parishioners to get a list of the families that are in need so donations may be delivered to them. Information about families in need may be given by calling the parish office or through the parish’s Facebook page. 

Also, people who wish to donate may call the parish to have it picked up. 

“We are all in this together,” Fr. Felix said. “We need to have compassion and be in solidarity now more than ever.”