March Have you heard about The Christmas Box House? Well, you will because it is the Outreach focus for March. The Christmas Box House, despite its name, provides services year-round to children caught up in the foster care system. These children are often removed from their homes because parents are caught in cycles of drug addiction, legal issues, and even homelessness. The Christmas Box House provides immediate shelter for children who are removed from their homes, but it does not stop there. They work closely with the state agencies to identify more permanent placements for the children, and to fill the gaps in what the state can provide. The Christmas Box House focuses on what the children need and tries to meet their emotional needs for stability, along with the basics of food and shelter. The Christmas Box House provides children with new clothes and toys like stuffed animals. This is often the first new thing the children remember having ever been given. There is much more to tell about The Christmas Box House. The Outreach Board will have more information available throughout the month of March.
Sandwich Making: All Saints Episcopal Church makes sandwiches for St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall on the third Sunday of every month. Sandwiches are made upstairs immediately following our service. Please plan on joining us in this very worthwhile endeavor and for a wonderful time of fellowship. Won't you join us for this gathering and opportunity to serve others? Thank you so much for participating in this ministry; it is an important part of All Saints'/FCC outreach!
Saturday Discussions: Videos of our recent Saturday discussions are available on our YouTube channel.
Hunger and Homelessness Day at the Capitol At least twelve faith communities, a high school class, activists, homeless and many others filled a room at the Utah State Capitol on Friday, January 24th. The speakers were great and often inspirational—including our own, Rev. Doug Gray. The teens were amazing in their sharing of information. We also heard from Wayne Niederhauser (who will speak on February 2nd at our church) from Utah’s Office of Homeless Services. To see more photos and commentary on the event, you can go to Crossroads Urban Center's page: www.crossroadsurbancenter.org/news Here is a link to a Utah News Dispatch article about the event. Pastor Doug is quoted! utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/01/27/faith-groups-advocates-urge-utah-legislature-to-fund-operations-for-new-family-shelter/ (Of special interest is this quote from Rev. Gray’s remarks, “In 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that Huntington Beach, CA had reached “functionally zero” homelessness—that they are housing people as fast or faster than people are becoming unhoused. It took determination and resources, but it is a remarkable achievement, one we can reach for. Civic leaders of compassion and foresight will recognize this moment as an opportunity to show determination about the crisis in affordable and deeply affordable housing. They will recognize the system’s role in creating this situation, and determine to show grace to those without a place to sleep and to treat each of these people with dignity.”)
1710 S FOOTHILL DRIVE | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84108 | 801-487-1357 | [email protected]