Employees from locally owned and operated Larkin Mortuaries & Cemeteries (Salt Lake and Sandy) volunteered more than 100 hours at The Salvation Army Angel Tree Warehouse December 7, 2022, sorting clothes and toys for the less fortunate in the community.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program provides Christmas assistance to families living below the federal poverty guidelines. Their “Angels” are children 12 years and younger, and the program’s goal is to make sure each child receives a new warm coat, shirt, pants, shoes and a toy for Christmas.

Families who need help providing Christmas presents are referred to the Angel Tree Program through local social service agencies and schools. Participants are then interviewed and selected based on need. If a family is selected, an angel tag is created for each child in the family and placed on Salvation Army Angel Trees at local malls, companies and organizations. Donors select an angel tag and purchase the gifts requested on the tag. These gifts are sent to the Salvation Army of Salt Lake City to be distributed. Last holiday season, The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program provided Christmas assistance to 3,480 children, helping 1,305 families. 

“We are extremely grateful to the employees of Larkin Mortuary for helping us sort, package and organize clothing and gifts going to needy children and senior citizens this year,” said Lt. Kate Combs of The Salvation Army Salt Lake City Corps. “Volunteer service is invaluable to making our program work efficiently, saving staffing costs and making Christmas special for the over 6,000 people who will receive a gift from us this year.”

“Our family has been serving the community for more than 135 years, and giving back is part of the Larkin culture of service,” commented Lance Larkin, president. “We understand the benefit that giving back has on the lives of our team members and the communities they serve and so we make it a priority each year to support local nonprofits.” larkinmortuary.com