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The number of homeless Utahns is on the rise, and with Christmas only days away, shelters are hoping Utahns will help.
More than 1,000 people show up at the Road Home each night seeking shelter, food and clothing. Cold temperatures, snow and overflowing shelters make it hard to be homeless, but people donating to the Road Home today are trying to make it a little easier.
Aleah Montoya was there. She said, "I have so much, I live like a queen compared to the people that need our help down here, and it's just so great to give them stuff that they need."
Rhiannon Butcher and her family have been receiving help there for the last seven months. She said, "All the dishes, all they toys they have done for my kids for Christmas, I mean, I would have gotten nothing. I came here with practically nothing."
Butcher is just one of about 600,000 families nationwide who have struggled to find a place to live this year. Today, her husband has a new job and her family will soon move into affordable housing.
"I wouldn't know what to do if I was one of those other families who is stressed about where I was going to go next or how I was going to deal with things," Butcher said.
The Road Home is hoping to meet the $500,000 in donations they received last year. Several radio stations are helping that cause. But Michelle Flynn, the associate executive director for The Road Home understands that for many this year, times are tough.
"We are concerned about this year. We have seen donations continue to come in. Some of them are smaller than usual and others are trying to keep the same level, and so we're optimistic, but we will really need to see how the rest of December goes to see if we meet our goals," she said.
Some shelters that would appreciate donations include:
The Road Home:
Call in donation line 819-7300
Ogden Rescue Mission:
2781 Wall Avenue, Ogden, UT 84401
801-621-4360
Wasatch Homeless Health Care Program
4th Street Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-364-0058
Salt Lake City Mission - Upward Motions & Second Chance Ranch: Christian-based men's shelter.
342 W. 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
801-355-6310
Family Promise of Salt Lake, a day shelter for homeless families
814 West 800 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84165
801-961-8622
Rescue Mission of Salt Lake - Rescue Haven, a shelter for women and children:
1165 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-521-5925
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
