This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's not just the people getting the food boxes at Mosaic Inter-Faith Ministries who are diverse. The volunteers passing them out are as well.
The Mosaic center, formerly called Lutheran Social Service of Utah, draws refugees from Bhutan to Iraq to Sierra Leone as well as immigrants from Guatemala to Peru.
Some 1,400 people will be served this holiday season, either with food boxes, bags of toys and blankets, or vouchers to area thrift stores, said Leslie Whited, Mosaic's chief executive.
The donations will help those without the means to celebrate the holidays.
The first of the food-box giveaways was Thursday. Two more are planned the next two Thursdays — Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 — at 8 a.m. The food boxes go to the first 300 families to show up, Whited said.
Mosaic also will give away toy-and-blanket bags for children, preteens and teenagers at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and vouchers for 250 families to use at Deseret Industries and Crossroads Urban Center at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The vouchers, Whited said, give recipients "a choice" to get what they need.
Volunteers are still needed for some of the events to distribute food, hot chocolate and candy canes; help with the children's activity table; decorate, set up and clean up; and help with the children's activity table.
Email MOSAICÂInterFaithMinistries@yahoo.com or contact Whited at 801-721-2641 (text or call), or Jose Bonilla, associate director of volunteer and community relations, 801-703-3274 (text or call).
Mosaic has a permanent food pantry, called Manna Market, and typically passes out food on Thursday mornings from picnic tables in front of the small center.
But for the holidays, Whited said, the boxes are bigger, with meat and a variety of food.
"It's the most diverse … food gathering," Whited said. "To me, it's this beautiful picture of what Utah is becoming. The people being served and serving are diverse ethnically in every category you can think of."
The nonprofit organization is in its 21st year in Utah. In that time, Whited said, it has served more than 1 million people.
Tax-deductible donations of food, household supplies, educational toys, art supplies, quilts and sports equipment are welcome at the Mosaic center, at 4392 S. 900 East in Millcreek, between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Twitter: @KristenMoulton