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At the 4th annual Breaking Bread, the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) in Salt Lake City recognized individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond to support our work and the refugees we serve. Learn more about the awardees in 2019:  

Janet Ellingson

A longtime supporter, Janet began her efforts as a volunteer efforts in a variety of capacities two years ago. Janet started out, and continues, as a front desk volunteer, signing up for two shifts each week. As a retired American History professor, Janet became interested in the Civics & Citizenship classes offered by the ̽����ѡ. About a year ago, she became a volunteer tutor.

Janet Ellingson, right, receives a Rescue Partner Award presented by Patrick Poulin, regional director for the ̽����ѡ's US West/Pacific region, at Breaking Bread.

Photo: Brendan O'Leary/Lantern Light Media

“It is so much fun. The greatest thing about it is just seeing the progress that each of those [students] have made. They’re doing great, they’ll all pass [the citizenship test] with flying colors.”

We are grateful for Janet’s willingness to serve one of the community’s most vulnerable populations—whether she is greeting them at the front desk in our office or leading them on the path to become a U.S. citizen.

The Bicycle Collective

At work in Salt Lake City for many years, the continues to be a committed partner to a number of human-centered services providers in Salt Lake County, including the ̽����ѡ in Salt Lake City. Through their Goodwill Bike program, they donated over 100 bikes directly to refugee families, both adults and children.

The Bicycle Collective receives a Rescue Partner Award presented to Donna McAleer (left), their executive director, at Breaking Bread in 2019 by Natalie El-Deiry (center), executive director at the ̽����ѡ in Salt Lake City.

Photo: Brendan O'Leary/Lantern Light Media

“While not all of us speak the same language, we all speak bikes. Bikes transcend barriers, generate excitement, and encourage exploration,” Donna McAleer, executive director of the Bicycle Collective explained in an interview earlier in 2019.

“The Bicycle Collective is excited to partner with the ̽����ѡ as refugees arrive in Salt Lake City with excitement, energy and hope for a new beginning!”

Creminelli Fine Meats

A local food business at work in Salt Lake City since 2007, staff, including Chris Bowler, CEO and co-founder, have volunteered and offered technical support to and the entrepreneurs served in the program for two years. This summer, Creminelli hosted the Discover Food Festival, a fundraiser organized to raise awareness of Spice Kitchen and the entrepreneurs participating in the program.

Creminelli Fine Meats honored with a Rescue Partner Award, presented to co-founders Chris Bowler (right) and Jared Lynch (left) at Breaking Bread by Natalie El-Deiry (center), executive director at the ̽����ѡ in Salt Lake City.

Photo: Brendan O'Leary/Lantern Light Media

“Our values at Creminelli are that we believe in good food and we believe in reaching out and doing good for other people,” Chris Bowler commented. “We have a real conviction that for everybody who comes to Salt Lake with food skills that they can share in the community, the community becomes richer, becomes more interesting, and becomes a better place to be.”

Creminelli plans to continue supporting the ̽����ѡ in Salt Lake City and the Spice Kitchen in the future, “We feel like we have just gotten started in terms of what we can do to help.”

We are honored to work with committed partners like Janet, the Bicycle Collective, and Creminelli Fine Meats; follow their lead and visit Rescue.org/SupportSLC.