Utah group with disabilities delivers donations to the homeless

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah service group that works with people with disabilities who may need behavioral therapy or are on different degrees of the spectrum spent the morning helping the homeless.

The service group called Buddies 4 Life collected donations like winter clothes, food, blankets, tents and other items to donate to the homeless in the area.

The group wanted to teach the people they work with the true meaning of Christmas. It's also a teaching opportunity — helping them learn the value of service and community.

Buddies 4 Life is based out of Clearfield and has been doing this service for the last three years.

On Friday morning, the buddies went downtown to personally give them out and make sure the donations got to those who needed them. The program's general director said it teaches their buddies skills to organize and the meaning of giving.

"By them being out in the community a lot, it makes them feel like they also belong outside of their own disability community," said Lindsay Ailima, general director of Buddies 4 Life.

Just like the group has done in years past, the buddies helped set up tables and handed out the donations they've collected.

The goal is to spread the spirit of the season — and volunteers may get as much out of it as the people they help.

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