Posted on 09/13/2007 3:05:12 PM PDT by Utah Girl
The first-ever comprehensive, one-stop "Welfare Complex" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will open in Layton by the end of 2008.
Now under construction at 900 W. Hill Field Road, the 65,000-square-foot facility on 6.3 acres of land will put seven different aspects of the LDS Church's welfare program — Deseret Industries, Distribution Services, Family Services, LDS Employment, Bishop's Storehouse, Family Home Storage Center and a Humanitarian Service Room — all under one roof.
According to Scott Anderson, manager of construction for Deseret Industries, this type of new complex — a single-story block building — should become the prototype for the church welfare system in the future.
"Bishops can refer someone to just one place," Anderson said. "It will all be at one location."
The complex site is just northeast of Sam's Club, on the north side of Hill Field Road. Its parking lot will have room for more than 200 cars and will tie into a nearby existing traffic signal. It will resemble the Tooele Deseret Industries building but will be much larger.
The current Deseret Industries outlet in Layton at 1010 W. Hill Field Road, just a half-block west of the new building site, opened in May 1998 in a leased building. It has about 30,000 square feet of total space.
The new Deseret Industries will have 23,000 square feet of retail space alone.
"It will have an improved drop-off area and docks," Anderson said, similar to what the new Murray store has. "The Layton Deseret Industries has consistently done better each year."
The Layton Deseret Industries will employ 100-120 people.
"We're most involved in training people," Anderson said. Deseret Industries trains employees with essential job skills. Later, they leave and work in the public sector. He said that's a great behind-the-scenes benefit to the nonprofit thrift store.
The current LDS Distribution Services, 719 N. Main, opened about five years ago, also in a leased facility. That store, in a strip mall, has proven to be very cramped quarters. Distribution Services offers church publications and books, church supplies and temple clothing to church members. Anderson said the new facility will offer more space.
There is currently a Bishop's Storehouse in Kaysville. Anderson said this one will supplement it, not replace it. He said smaller Bishop's Storehouses like this one will be the plan for the future.
The Family Home Storage Center won't replace the larger Dry Pack Cannery in west Kaysville but will be an extension of it. People will be able to come in and use this smaller dry pack facility and also buy food to pack there.
The Humanitarian Room will allow local members to assist with volunteers on church relief projects on-site, instead of having to travel much longer distances elsewhere.
The LDS Church prefers to eventually own its own facilities, so it purchased the land for the new Layton complex in 2000.
Scott Carter, Layton director of Community Development, said a separate new car wash — not affiliated with the church — will be built on the west side of the property.
Centerville and Ogden have the other two nearest Deseret Industries stores to Layton in the area.
Deseret Industries was born during the post-Depression era when the LDS Church sent two officials to Los Angeles in 1938 to study Goodwill Industries and determine how the church could create similar employment opportunities through a thrift-store business.
Today it is one of the largest thrift store chains in the nation, behind Goodwill and Saver's stores, with 46 different stores in seven Western states.
Does the service extend to non-LDS?
I have to say thank you to LDS in our area because they, as individual churches, I’ve forgotten exactly what the term used is, (Stakes?) have helped when I’ve had to scramble and scrounge getting money and aid for people on the edge.
LDS has always been very helpful to this Catholic.
Yes.
I lived in Utah as a teenager and have always been impressed with the way they take care of their own. I never saw a Mormon on welfare or without a job when they wanted one.They serve as a good example of the faith based initiatives that GWB spoke about early on.
A stake is roughly equivalent to a diocese in the Roman Catholic Church; a ward is similar to a parish.
Ping to read later
For the Bishop's Storehouse, you must have an order from the bishop in your area (he and the Relief Society president can fill out the orders.)
Here is some information on the Bishop's storehouse. If one does receive goods from the Bishop's storehouse, then the recipient is encouraged are invited to work or render service in various ways in exchange for goods (according to their circumstances.) People who aren't members of the LDS church may be helped temporarily, but are usually advised to go to other sources for more help.
The Family Storage Room is available to all. The leaders in the LDS church advise everyone to be prepared whenever and however possible (living circumstances differ a good deal.) There is some really good information on being prepared for disasters, loss of jobs, etc. And an interesting new note, I just went to lds.org and they talk about a 3 month storage of food and supplies for most things. We've been urged to get a year's supply worth of food.
The Humanitarian Service Room is where volunteers may learn more about humanitarian service projects and have opportunities to serve. Locations of Humanitarian Service Rooms may be found by calling (801) 240-5954 or online at www.providentliving.org.
If you want more information, let me know. :)
I’m glad to hear that. We do try to work within the communities to serve and help others.
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