Holiday Drives: CCS Utah

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A volunteer wraps presents to be donated through Catholic Community Services' Gift of the Drummer Program in this undated photo.

As the holiday season approaches, Catholic organizations in Utah are working to provide food and gifts to those most in need. All people of good will are asked to prayerfully considering donating to such efforts. As Christ said, “Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” (Mt 5:42)

SALT LAKE CITY — This holiday season, Catholic Community Services of Utah is preparing to make sure “the spirit of giving shines the brightest.”

Part of this effort is their Holiday Giving Guide, which is “meant to serve as your go-to resource for discovering the myriad of ways you can make a meaningful impact during this special time of year,” states the CCS Utah webpage.

Among the ways people can help CCS’ clients are the Gift of the Drummer program and the Turkey Drive.

Recipients of the Gift of the Drummer program are “Refugee Resettlement clients under 18 who currently have an active case with our agency, as well as all youth in our Refugee Foster Care program,” said Mariza Gallegos, director of CCS’ volunteer and community relations.

Currently, CCS serves about 450 refugee youth. The Gift of the Drummer program provides donors with a “wish list” from each youth aged newborn to 16 that includes clothing items such as shoes, socks, dresses, pants and coats.

Registration for eligible families has already begun; those who qualify are registered through CCS’ Saint Vincent de Paul Basics Needs Services. Many who receive support are refugee families; others are unaccompanied refugee children who are in foster care, individuals who are homeless and children in low-income families.

During the registration, volunteers for CCS gather information about what the children would like to receive, as well as their clothing sizes, styles and favorite colors. This information is then given to the sponsors.

“While anyone in the community can sponsor a child or donate, we receive substantial annual support from Catholic parishes, schools, local businesses and dedicated volunteers,” Gallegos said.

The deadline to apply for the program is the first week of November. After donors receive the information about the child, they can drop off their gifts at CCS,  224 North 2200 West in Salt Lake City, during the first week of December. Items should be delivered unwrapped because “local volunteer groups will assist in gift wrapping, and our CCS staff, along with active volunteers who have cleared background checks, will collaborate to ensure the gifts are delivered to the families,” Gallegos said.

To help those in need in the Ogden area, Catholic Community Services of Northern Utah’s Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank provides their clients with a box containing all the fixings for a turkey dinner. To be eligible for the food bank’s services, clients must be below 185 percent of the national poverty level.

This year the food bank is planning to serve about 1,000 families, said Durrell Annis, coordinator for the Bridging the Gap program, which provides school-age children with sacks of groceries to take them through the weekend.

Turkeys can be donated from now through Nov. 17 at CCS Northern Utah, 2504 F Ave., Ogden between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays.

The food bank also is accepting donations of hams for Christmas meals; those will be accepted through December. About 950 to 1000 hams will be needed, said Annis, adding that helping those most in need is important because each person is a child of God.

“It important for our hearts and souls to remember the less fortunate every day; it is what he would do,” Annis said. “The holidays just make it a bit easier because there is more opportunity to give and remember him.”

In addition to seeking donations for the holidays, the food bank at Basic Needs Ogden is seeking contributions of all items; the  pantry shelves are the lowest they have been in a long time, Annis said.

“The last big community drives brought in 50 percent less than in years past, and we are feeling the pinch,” he said, adding that donating food to the pantry “is an easy way to help the less fortunate.”

“Lending a hand to those in need, particularly during the holiday season, is vital be-cause it embodies our compassion and reinforces a sense of community,” Gallegos said. “The holidays are when many of us enjoy the warmth of our homes and the company of loved ones, making it a fitting moment to extend our care to those less fortunate.”