SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City and Volunteers of America (VOA) are joining forces this month to host a winter clothing drive, which will directly benefit clients of the VOA who have winter clothing needs. The drive will be on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Salt Lake City County Building at 451 S. State Street on the building’s east side.

The community is encouraged to donate gently used adult women and men’s size items, including coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, blankets, pillows and sleeping bags – all items that should be washed before donating. New socks and undergarments also are greatly needed.

“This year has been difficult for many in our community, especially our vulnerable neighbors experiencing homelessness,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “The VOA is a great community partner whose work impacts the life of each person it serves. As a City we are committed to being part of all efforts to help our unsheltered neighbors and hope this drive will meet a direct need.”

The City’s drive will help build the VOA’s warm clothing inventory to ensure those in need are supported during the winter and after the holiday season, which is when donations typically slow down annually.  

“Volunteers of America, Utah is so proud to be able to partner with Salt Lake City, in order to make sure our clients are being cared for and given the necessary items to meet their needs, especially during these frigid months,” said Kathy Bray, President & CEO of Volunteers of America, Utah. “We want to thank Salt Lake City and Mayor Mendenhall for hearing our needs and organizing a much-needed event for our clients, while also working through a global pandemic. The clothing that will be gathered will be distributed right away and will truly save the lives of so many Utahns. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our compassionate community.”

Volunteers of America, Utah serves over 8,000 individuals annually through various programs including two homeless resource centers, two counseling centers, two detox centers, a transition home, Maud’s Cafe (a job training program), the Homeless Outreach Program, and a permanent supportive housing apartment complex. 

All donations to VOA go to assisting people in these programs, depending on their needs.

Community members who want to make a donation are asked to wear a mask and drive up to the City County Building’s horseshoe drive on the east side of Washington Square, where volunteers wearing PPE will unload items from the trunks of vehicles. 

The VOA is also taking donations by appointment only at both donation centers located at the Youth Resource Center (888 South 400 West) or the Geraldine E King Women’s Resource Center (131 East 700 South). To view VOA’s urgent needs list and to sign up for a donation drop off time, visit voaut.org/in-kind.

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