The Road Home helps up to 800 people experiencing homelessness on any given night at its various Utah locations. Now that winter temperatures are sinking that need is increasing. On Nov. 17, representatives from Bank of Utah, Arctic Circle Restaurants and Red Hanger Cleaners made a major delivery of warm clothing to The Road Home Men's Resource Center (recently renamed to the Pamela Atkinson Resource Center) in Salt Lake City. The delivery was just one of 12 stops at charities across Utah, capping off another successful Warm Bodies, Warm Souls clothing drive.
Community members donated 460 large bags of warm clothing and $5,400 (about $450 per charity) in cash as part of the clothing drive, which celebrated its 10th year this year.
“Winter clothing is absolutely crucial,” said Rachel Anderson, marketing specialist for The Road Home. “When families don’t have to worry about warm coats, hats, socks, gloves and even necessities such as underwear they can focus on other things.”
Roger Christensen, senior vice president of Business Development and Communications at Bank of Utah, appreciates everyone who donated to Warm Bodies, Warm Souls. “With a tightening economy and people worried about expenses, we feel extra grateful for those people from Tremonton to St. George, who gave all they could and then some to help those in need,” he said.
Donations were distributed to the following charities:
- Cache Community Food Pantry ‒ Logan
- Tremonton Community Pantry ‒ Tremonton
- The Family Support Center ‒ Brigham City
- Catholic Community Services (Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank) ‒ Ogden
- The Lantern House ‒ Ogden
- Bountiful Community Pantry ‒ Bountiful
- Crossroads Urban Center ‒ Salt Lake City
- The Road Home's Family Shelter ‒ Salt Lake City
- Heber Valley Center Stage ‒ Heber
- Community Action Services and Food Bank ‒ Provo
- United Way ‒ Price
- Hope Pregnancy Center ‒ St. George
Spreading Generosity and Goodness
Branden Hansen, incoming Bank of Utah president, said this year’s event was both needed and timely.
“There are many people struggling this season and as cold weather sets in we are both humbled and impressed with the generosity of all those in our state who have made donations to help people in their communities. With this being the 10-year anniversary of Warm Bodies, Warm Souls, we are happy to be able to continue this worthy cause with our partners, Arctic Circle and Red Hanger. It is always great to partner with others who want to help those less fortunate.”
To say thank you, Arctic Circle offered a coupon for a free double cheeseburger to those who donated at their restaurants. Red Hanger gave customers a certificate for a free shirt cleaning for donating at their dry cleaner locations. Bank of Utah offered a choice of the coupons at their locations.
A Community Tradition
Bank of Utah started the Warm Bodies, Warm Souls clothing drive in 2011, in an effort to give back to local communities. Arctic Circle Restaurants and their foundation, Arctic Cares, joined in 2014, which greatly broadened the reach of the campaign through more locations and advertising support. Red Hanger joined in 2017 to offer more drop-off sites and their trucks to pick up and collect the donations. In 2021, Bank of Utah added an online giving source, providing a new way for community members to donate cash.
From everyone at Bank of Utah, Arctic Circle and Red Hanger, thank you, again. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of others.
