Welfare Square facts for kids
Welfare Square is a special place in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This center helps people and families who need food, clothes, or other support. It is a big part of the Church's way of helping others.
Welfare Square has many different parts. These include a tall grain silo, places where fruit grows, and a milk factory. There is also a cannery for food, a bakery, and a thrift store called Deseret Industries. It even has an office to help people find jobs. The largest Bishop's storehouse for the Church is also here. This is where supplies are kept.
Most of the help given at Welfare Square goes to members of the Church. About 50 people work here full-time. Also, 200 volunteers help out regularly. Money from Church members, called Fast offerings, helps pay for everything.
History of Welfare Square
Welfare Square was started in 1938. This was done by the Church's General Welfare Committee. This committee had just formed two years before. During the 1930s and 1940s, the United States was going through the Great Depression. Welfare Square became a very important part of the Church's plan to help people during this hard time.
A big update of Welfare Square began in the late 1990s. It finished in 2001. The old grain building from 1940 was the only part not changed much. The concrete grain tower can hold a lot of wheat. It can store about 19 million pounds of wheat.
In 2011, the Utah government passed a special law. The governor signed it. This law honored the start of the Church's Welfare System. Welfare Square is a main part of this system.
How Welfare Square Helps
Welfare Square is part of a bigger program by the Church. This program teaches people to be responsible and to work for what they receive. When people get help from Welfare Square, they might be asked to volunteer their time. This helps them to help others in return.
