As the holiday season approaches, our hearts swell with warmth and a desire to spread joy. At Catholic Community Services of Utah, we believe that this season is not just about festive decorations and celebrations; it's a time when the spirit of giving shines the brightest.
In the spirit of compassion and community, we are thrilled to present "The Holiday Giving Guide." It 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. At CCS, we're dedicated to providing help and creating hope, and we invite you to join us in this endeavor.
Here you'll find a treasure trove of opportunities to make a difference, touching the lives of those we serve through our three incredible departments: Basic Needs Ogden, Basic Needs Salt Lake, and Migration and Refugee Services. Each department offers unique ways to volunteer your time, talents, or resources, ensuring that you can give in a manner that resonates with your heart.
Join us as we unwrap the true essence of the holidays through acts of kindness and generosity. Let's make this season brighter, one small act of love at a time.
Basic Needs Salt Lake
CCS’ Basic Needs Salt Lake department exists to serve those in our community impacted by homelessness, as well as food and income insecurity. This is done through the Weigand Resource Center, St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall, and St. Vincent's Kitchen Academy. Read further to discover the many ways you can join us in providing help and creating hope.
Volunteer With Us
Weigand Resource Center Clothing Room Volunteer
The Weigand Resource Center clothing room provides clients with clothing assistance. Volunteers will welcome clients, explain how the clothing room operates, assist clients with selections, and record client selections.
Weigand Resource Center Volunteer
Weigand Resource Center volunteers may assist in checking clients in, managing and cleaning storage areas, and maintaining cleanliness. Volunteers may also provide assistance in the laundry and computer rooms.
St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall Volunteer
St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall volunteers will assist in preparing and serving meals for clients. This includes chopping and peeling vegetables, preparing plates as clients enter the facility, and other kitchen-related duties.
Make a Donation
Amazon Wishlist
Many of Basic Needs Salt Lake’s in-kind donation needs can be found on our Amazon Wishlist. Items purchased from this list should be shipped to 437 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. This list can also be used as inspiration for in-kind donations to be purchased elsewhere and dropped off at the above address. Donations can be dropped off on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Current high priority items include coats, sleeping bags, socks, and hats.
Gift of the Drummer
Support the clients of CCS’ Basic Needs Salt Lake department by participating in their annual Gift of the Drummer drive. Donors are invited to provide clients experiencing homelessness with warm clothing, handwarmers, sleeping bags, blankets, socks, hats, coats, and hygiene items. Donations can be dropped off at 437 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For more information on participating, please email Courtney at .
Donate Monetarily
Monetary donations to support CCS’ Basic Needs Salt Lake department can be made through our donation page. Please select “Basic Needs Salt Lake” from the campaign drop down menu.
Basic Needs Ogden
Through the operation of the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank, Bridging the Gap, and St. Martha's Baby Project, CCS’ Basic Needs Ogden department addresses the needs of those in our community impacted by food and income insecurity. Below you’ll find the many ways that you can support this work.
Volunteer With Us
Warehouse Volunteer
Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank Warehouse Volunteers will assist in sorting donated food items, as well as assembling boxes and bags of food for clients.
Food Pantry Volunteer
Food Pantry Volunteers will assist in stocking shelves, greeting clients, assisting clients as they pick out groceries, and other projects at Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank.
Make a Donation
Amazon Wishlist
Many of Basic Needs Ogden’s in-kind donation needs can be found on our Amazon Wishlist. Items purchased from this list should be shipped to 2504 F Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401. This list can also be used as inspiration for in-kind donations to be purchased elsewhere and dropped off at the above address. Donations can be dropped off on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Pantry Packs
Pantry Packs are prepackaged, gallon-sized zip lock bags with specific, easily purchased items which can be collected and assembled anywhere. The packs contain six meals and four snacks. CCS distributes Pantry Packs to schools in the Ogden area where they are given to students experiencing food insecurity.
Consider getting some friends together to assemble and donate Pantry Packs for local schools. More information can be found here.
Donate Food or Host a Food Drive
CCS’ Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank gathers and distributes food resources to those in the Ogden area experiencing food insecurity in a grocery store style facility. Currently the pantry is in high need of donations. High priority items include soup, fruit, dry and canned pasta, canned meat (excluding tuna), water, and other drinks.
Donations can be dropped off at 2504 F Avenue in Ogden on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Baby Items
St. Martha’s Baby Project comes alongside new mothers experiencing income insecurity by providing newborn layettes, or packages, containing the many essentials a newborn may need. Layettes include onesies, bottles, swaddles, a mother’s gift, and more. Currently, St. Martha’s Baby Project is in need of newly purchased outfits and onesies (size 0-3 months), socks, baby body wash, lotion, and shampoo. Donations can be purchased through our Amazon Wishlist or dropped off at 2504 F Avenue in Ogden on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Donate Monetarily
Monetary donations to support CCS’ Basic Needs Salt Lake department can be made through our donation page. Please select “Basic Needs Ogden” from the campaign drop down menu.
Migration and Refugee Services
CCS’ Migration & Refugee Services department offers clients a variety of services including case management, job placement, legal services, interpretation, transportation, housing, and more. This is done through three distinct programs— Refugee Resettlement, Refugee Foster Care, and Immigration. Below you’ll find the many ways you can join us in supporting the refugee community in Utah.
Volunteer With Us
Refugee Youth Services Volunteer
Youth Services Volunteers will assist newcomer youth and their families how to get to and from school, as well as accompanying them on their first day.
Refugee Youth Tutor Youth
Tutors will be matched with refugee youth and support them in their education through tutoring. Youth tutors may also assist students beyond school work. Some help youth prepare for the GED, or even a driver's test.
Refugee Youth Mentor
The Mentor's role is to be a friend to their mentee, help them adjust to a new cultural environment, discover and develop their strength, and engage with others and the community in positive ways.
Refugee Health Promotion Volunteer
Health Promotion Volunteers will assist CCS staff in teaching clients how to navigate the United States Healthcare System.
Refugee Bus Orientation Volunteer
Utilizing public transportation is important for CCS' Refugee Resettlement clients. However, for many clients it is a new experience. As a Bus Orientation Volunteer, you will work with clients as they learn the best ways to utilize this service.
Refugee Family Mentor
Refugee Family Mentors support clients in their cultural adjustment to the United States during their first two years of resettlement. CCS provides Family Mentors with tasks to work on with client families as they work towards self-sufficiency.
Refugee ESL Tutor
ESL Tutors will provide CCS' Refugee Resettlement clients with supplemental instruction from English as a Second Language classes to improve English language skills.
Sharehouse Volunteer
As a Sharehouse volunteer, you will be assisting our Sharehouse Coordinator with picking up donations, sorting and organizing at the Sharehouse, or even helping to set up the homes of our refugee clients before they arrive.
Pro Bono Attorneys Needed
CCS’ Immigration department is in need of attorneys willing to donate their time to assist with the current caseload of clients striving to reach critical legal milestones. If you are interested in giving your time, please email Alyssa at .
Make a Donation
Amazon Wishlist
Many of Migration and Refugee Services in-kind donation needs can be found on our Amazon Wishlist. Items purchased from this list should be shipped to 224 N 2200 W Salt Lake City, UT 84116. This list can also be used as inspiration for in-kind donations to be purchased elsewhere and dropped off at 440 South 400 West Suite D&E, Salt Lake City, UT. Donations can be dropped off on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
These items are used to furnish and equip the living spaces of newly arrived refugee clients. Current high priority items include cleaning supplies, infant car seats, and paper products.
Gift of the Drummer
Every year, with the help of generous donors, CCS provides holiday gifts for all refugee clients under the age of 18 through an initiative called Gift of the Drummer. With an increase in clients at CCS over the last year, we anticipate a need for around 400 children this year.
If you're interested in donating holiday gifts for refugee youth this year, please fill out this form and let us know or email Mariza at for more information.
Housing
CCS' Refugee Resettlement housing team is always in need of help securing homes for refugee clients. Whether you have a space to donate or are a landlord with an interest in renting to refugee clients, we would love to partner with you.
If you have a space to offer or a lead on rental housing, please fill out our Housing Questionnaire here.
Consider Becoming a Refugee Foster Parent
Through CCS’ Refugee Foster Care program, unaccompanied refugee minors are placed in loving and licensed foster care homes. While in the program, a team of Family Consultants, Case Managers, and Transition to Adult Living Coaches work with foster families to help the youth reach their goals and prepare for long-term self-sufficiency.
If you are interested in opening your heart and home to a refugee youth, consider becoming a Refugee Foster Parent. For more information, visit this page or email us at .
Donate Monetarily
Monetary donations to support CCS’ Migration and Refugee Services department can be made through our donation page. Please select “Migration and Refugee Services” from the Campaign drop down menu.
Thank you for all that you do to join us in providing help and creating hope all year long. From all of us at Catholic Community Services of Utah, Happy Holidays!
