We Believe In Community
Turning a Shared Value Into Shared Action
Utah’s greatest asset has always been the way we show up for each other. But too many of our neighbors—the homeless, the hungry, the aging—are falling through gaps that our goodwill alone can’t close.
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4,512
Utahns were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2026.
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533,290
Utahns are facing hunger, including 177,950 children — roughly 1 in 7 people and 1 in 5 children statewide.
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1 in 3
retirement-aged Utahns are living with a disability.
The Gaps Are Clear. So Is Your Role.
Service can bring Utahns across differences together around something tangible they care about. When people contribute different skills, experiences, relationships, and resources to solve a shared challenge, service becomes not only an act of giving, but an act of belonging.
Here’s how leaders across business, government, and community can create more service opportunities.
Business Leaders
Choose a concrete challenge—such as helping seniors remain safely in their homes—and bring together executives and frontline workers, younger and older Utahns, longtime residents and newcomers, and people from different backgrounds. Include those affected in designing the response, then combine everyone’s skills, experiences, and resources to act together.
Ideas to get you started
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Partner with shelters year-round, like Catholic Community Services, The Road Home, and Volunteers of America Utah, not just during the holidays.
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Launch payroll giving with automatic matching. Small recurring donations create a reliable supply for food pantries.
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Adopt a Meals on Wheels delivery route. Volunteers are needed for just one hour per week to deliver meals to homebound seniors age 60+.
Elected & Civic Leaders
Identify a shared challenge—such as an unsafe route to school or transportation for seniors—and bring together residents from different neighborhoods, generations, political perspectives, businesses, and community organizations to co-create and carry out a solution.
Ideas to get you started
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Expand emergency winter shelter access.
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Fund grants to increase local food processing and distribution capacity, particularly in rural and underserved counties.
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Build the caregiving workforce by funding pipeline programs for in-home care, geriatric nursing, and senior companion services to address Utah’s low worker-to-senior ratio.
Faith & Community Leaders
Use the convening power of faith to bring together people who might not normally meet around a challenge such as youth loneliness, food insecurity, or struggling families. Include those experiencing the challenge and build the response with them, not for them.
Ideas to get you started
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Organize congregation-based care kit drives (hygiene supplies, socks, warm clothing) and coordinate regular distribution with nearby shelters and outreach teams.
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Host a monthly community meal open to all—modeled on a program like St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall, which serves over 2,000 meals a day with volunteer support.
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Recruit volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Senior Companion Programs, which pair adults 55+ with frail seniors for grocery shopping, meal preparation, and transportation to appointments.
Every Utahn
Choose a challenge in your community and invite someone outside your usual circle to tackle it with you. Listen to those affected, bring different strengths to the table, and decide together what you can do.
Service Gives Us a Reason to Cross the Lines That Separate Us
Don't Just Ask, “Who Can I Help?” Ask, “What Can We Solve Together?”
Need Help Planning Your Event?
Tell us what you want to tackle in your community and who you want to bring together. Our team will help you shape the event, find partners, and get people in the room.
Dive Deeper
This page is a starting point. These organizations and resources go further, offering research, programs, and partnership opportunities for leaders ready to act.
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MyHometownUT
A community storytelling and engagement platform that highlights local voices, shared values, and civic connection across Utah.
Visit Website : MyHometownUT -
UServe Utah
A statewide volunteer directory and platform connecting everyday Utahns with service opportunities across causes like education, food security, environment, and more.
Visit Website : UServe Utah -
Utah Food Bank
The largest hunger-relief organization in Utah; distributes food free of charge to 533,000+ Utahns through partner agencies statewide.
Visit Website : Utah Food Bank -
The Road Home
Operates emergency shelters and resource centers across Salt Lake County; directly addresses the Point-in-Time (PIT) count population.
Visit Website : The Road Home -
AARP Utah
Advocacy, research, and community programs for Utah’s growing aging population; caregiver support and livable communities’ initiatives.
Visit Website : AARP Utah -
United Way of Salt Lake
Collective impact model addressing poverty, education, and health; coordinates volunteer mobilization across sectors.
Visit Website : United Way of Salt Lake
Apply for a Grant
Utah We Believe In starts with everyday Utahns coming together to build stronger communities. These mini-grants support local projects that put our five shared values—Community, Hard Work, Families, Nature, and Faith—into action.
Learn more