LOCAL LIFE
Page 2 | November 2016
Midvale City Journal
League donates 300 kits to family shelter By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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onations are necessary for any homeless shelter, especially those for families. On Oct. 6, The Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) donated 300 kits filled with important items for families at The Road Home in Midvale, a family shelter. “We chose this shelter because it’s a family shelter, where people might not always think to donate to,” said Krysten Olson, executive assistant at ULCT. The ULCT is a nonpartisan, inter-local government cooperative that works to strengthen the quality of municipal government. At their annual convention in September, the auxiliary program—made up of spouses of mayors, city councilmembers and city managers from all over the state—decided to do a service project to put together homeless kits. Items donated were specifically for families and included diapers, baby wipes, underwear and stuffed animals for younger children. Little racing cars and sunglasses were added for boys. Olson runs the auxiliary program and spearheaded the project. She said they added items for women that they might need for a job interview, such as nail polish or makeup. “We thought if these women are trying to get jobs, they want to look presentable,” Olson said. All items were purchased via a donation from Smith’s Food and Drug, which sponsored the event. Adam Collier, Road Home Volunteer Coordinator, said Olson and the UCLT were wonderful to work with. “The wanted to know what were our most urgent needs and how they specifically could help to address them,” Collier said. A book drive was also held to provide books for the shelter’s circulating library. When kids leave the shelter, it’s encouraged to take a book with them as something that belongs to them. Olson said their goal with the items donated were for them to become special possessions the kids could take with them when they leave, such as a small Star Wars toy.
Smith’s Food and Drug provided the donation, which purchased all the items for the Utah League of Cities and Towns gave to The Road Home. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
Approximately 800 attendees helped put the kits together. Olson said many shared stories from their communities. “There were lots of tears shed,” Olson said. Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini participated in the donation process. She said it helps you appreciate your life. “One gentleman told me he was making this kit with underwear for a little three or four year old and thought, ‘could you imagine your grandkids not having any of this,’” Seghini said. Collier said donations are very important for the families. “Even basic hygiene items can do great things for peoples’ esteem, lifting them up and ultimately helping them transition from homelessness back into our communities,” Collier said. Olson said ULCT hopes to do another
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project for the family shelter next year. “[They’d] like to come down next year for a tour and then do something they need whether it’s weeding or whatever,” Olson said. In the meantime during the coming winter months, Seghini said warm clothing, such as boots, mittens, scarves and coats need to be donated to the shelter. They especially need socks. “Children need to be kept dry and warm during the winter as much as possible,” Seghini said. “Whatever you can donate, wherever you are, would be greatly appreciated.” Collier said the shelter is always in need of diapers, in particular sizes five and six, as well as baby wipes, formula and warm clothing of any size. To find out what else could be donated, call The Road Home Midvale Center at 801-569-1201. l