The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens a new Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City that provides jobs and English training to immigrants and refugees while preparing humanitarian supplies for global distribution.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has opened a new Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City , designed to serve both global humanitarian needs and local immigrants and refugees.
The facility, located at 1999 W. 1700 South, focuses on providing temporary employment and English education to individuals from vulnerable populations, helping them gain skills and integrate into the community. While the Church is widely known for its international disaster relief, this center highlights a domestic initiative that transforms lives through work and learning. The center operates through partnerships with three resettlement agencies and referrals from local bishops, recruiting associates who choose their roles-sorting donations, cooking, or operating machinery.
Half of each workday is dedicated to English training, funded by the Church and delivered via a partnership with the English Skills Learning Center. Classes cover citizenship preparation, digital literacy, and driving skills, among others. Associates are paid for their training time, and many leave with certifications such as food handler permits or forklift operation credentials. On average, participants stay for about ten months before transitioning to other careers; some have even started their own restaurants.
The new facility can accommodate up to 250 English learners, an increase from the previous site's capacity of 150. Although the building is slightly smaller than the previous one at 250,000 square feet, its layout is optimized for teamwork and efficiency. It includes a devotional room tailored for Muslim associates to perform daily prayers, reflecting the Church's commitment to religious respect without proselytizing.
The center also processes large clothing bales from Deseret Industries donations, sorting and rebundling them into smaller, manageable loads for worldwide distribution. Church leaders emphasize that the center embodies the Savior's command to love one's neighbor, caring for both the global recipients of aid and the local workers who make that aid possible. As managing director Blaine Maxfield stated, the facility is about building individuals, not just distributing goods.
President Dallin H. Oaks noted its role in meeting global emergency needs. Manager Troy Casper expressed amazement at the associates' rapid progress in language and confidence, noting their constant gratitude. The center's exhibit educates visitors about the Church's broader humanitarian efforts, and its dedication marked the beginning of an expanded mission to serve both near and far
Humanitarian Center Immigrants Refugees English Education The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saint Deseret Industries Salt Lake City Welfare Services
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