Monthly News: Valentine Surprises for YOU, Former Guest Gives Update, “The Best We Have is Each Other”
Feb 14, 2022
Where is Michael Today?
Back in summer 2019, Michael Hay was a homeless guest in recovery at our homeless shelter, Utah’s Place. On Valentine’s Day 2020, he made a goodbye video as he prepared to leave the shelter and move into his new home.
It’s been two years now and some may wonder … is Michael still housed? Is he still clean and sober?
Michael tells all in the following special video update:
This month we have an ambitious goal of welcoming 25 new members to our Hearts & Hands Club!
Hearts & Hands Club members are monthly subscription donors who provide consistent and reliable funding to provide shelter, food, clothing, and customized case management services to those in need. The Hearts & Hands Club is the easiest way to support Hospitality House – to join simply let us know how much you’d like to donate each month, on what day you’d like the funds automatically drawn from your account, and that’s it!
You can help us reach our goal by joining for as little as $5 a month and start having an impact today. With 7 new members joined, we have 18 to go!
“The feeling of gratitude that’s expressed can keep ya going.”
Keith Johnson is always looking for ways to help those in need. A member of the Unitarian Universal Community of the Mountains (UUCM), Keith believes in practicing the principles of Unitarianism. Those principals led him to volunteer at Hospitality House.
“As a Unitarian, we joke that our principals are more important than our prayer. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
Keith first learned of Hospitality House from one of the founders, Utah Phillips, who was a member of the UUCM congregation. UUCM also served as a location for Hospitality House back when it was still operating as a nomadic shelter.
Keith started volunteering with Hospitality House six years ago as a dinner coordinator. He also volunteers at our Night of Giving and has lent a hand during our semi-annual camp clean-ups. As the dinner coordinator, he organized the volunteers in the congregation, collected money to purchase the food, and prepared the meal on-site. When the volunteer program was suspended because of COVID-19, Keith made sure that the UUCM still contributed monthly to help cover food costs for our guests.
“The unhoused are with us, and they deserve our respect. I try to do what I can because of that.”
Keith and his crew are anxiously awaiting the return of the cook groups volunteer program. Their favorite thing to make for guests is enchilada pie, a casserole-style enchilada dish with beef, cheese, tomatoes, and more. He says it’s the dish that brings the most guests back for seconds, an experience he’s missed during the current temporary suspension of our volunteer program.
“I am looking forward to getting back into the kitchen and seeing the people really are appreciative of what you do, and they tell you that. It can sustain you.”
In the meantime, Keith continues to look for creative ways to support Hospitality House’s efforts by fundraising within the UUCM community and checking in with our Program Officer and Outreach Director to see if there are any specific needs that he and UUCM can fill.
Thank you, Keith, for all you do. We are grateful and can’t wait to have you back in the kitchen!
A Poem Written For You This Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day we think of those
Who make our work worthwhile,
Those kind and generous people who
We think of with a smile.
With 618 individuals helped last year,
Those are results we can measure.
We’re committed to helping those in need,
With shelter, food, services and memories to treasure.
We are fortunate to know and help each guest,
The four walls of our shelter offer more than a place to stay,
There’s love and care provided to each person thanks to you,
And so we wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
We hope this poem reminded you
Of the importance of each donation.
Every person helped was made possible by each of you,
you are the strength in our foundation!
Business Appreciation: The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
We would like to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation have remained devoted in their support of Hospitality House. In the past, they’ve volunteered in our kitchen, cooking meals for our guests. With our volunteer program on hold, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has continued to feed those in need through a food grant, which allows Hospitality House to order groceries from the Bishop’s Storehouse every month. Gina, pictured above, has been enjoying the opportunity to order exactly what she needs to provide hot and healthy meals to all of our guests!
Additionally, this last Christmas, these fine folks donated stockings stuffed with daily essential items to every shelter guest and community member sheltering in motels, brightening their spirits.
We are so grateful for the continued support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all they do to help those in need.
Thank You From Tammy
Tammy is a current guest at Utah’s Place. This Valentine’s Day, she wants to say thank you for all you’ve done to help her through this difficult time in her life.
To help Tammy and other women, men, and children receive shelter, food, and services donate today>
Create a Living Legacy
Planned giving is an easy way to ensure that Hospitality House will continue to aid those in need well into the future, without affecting your current finances. By creating a living legacy through thoughtful estate planning, you can preserve your estate for your heirs and strengthen the care and services provided by Hospitality House. Planned giving can be an effective tax reduction strategy that directly benefits those in need. For more information, visit our website>
Donations of Goods Temporarily Suspended
Effective January 14th, 2022: Due to increased COVID-19 cases and a construction project at Utah’s Place, donations of goods are temporarily suspended to protect the people we serve and the greater community. Thanks to the members of our community who gave so generously during the holidays, we are able to enter this pause in donations with well-stocked shelves.
In place of donations of goods, we encourage those who are still interested in giving to consider making a financial contribution at hhshelter.org/donate.
We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of uncertainty. In the words of Utah Phillips, “If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need.” Thank you!
Due to increased COVID-19 cases and a construction project at Utah’s Place, donations of goods are temporarily suspended to protect the people we serve and the greater community.
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