The Deseret Industries Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City continues to serve as a dual-purpose employment training facility and global aid hub, processing surplus items from Deseret Industries stores for humanitarian relief and recycling efforts. The center, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides specialized job training to associates while diverting millions of pounds of goods from landfills.
Workplace Skill Development
The facility functions as a training ground designed to help individuals develop employable skills and foster self-reliance. Associates enrolled in the program receive instruction in various technical and soft skills, including food service, production, forklift operation, custodial work, and maintenance. The training curriculum is modeled after the program used at Deseret Industries stores.
Support for Immigrant Workers
Beyond technical instruction, the program focuses on developing essential workplace behaviors such as teamwork, productivity, dependability, and professionalism. To assist associates in transitioning to new career paths, the center offers the Ready for Work program, which prepares participants for future employment opportunities. Additionally, some associates have the option to participate in an internal English program for half of their paid working shifts, a resource specifically designed to support immigrants and those displaced from their home countries.
Cultural and Emotional Support
The workforce at the Humanitarian Center is notably diverse, with associates representing over 25 different countries and speaking up to 35 different languages. Many employees arrive with professional backgrounds in their home countries but must master English before they can secure positions in their preferred fields. To support the emotional needs of these individuals, the center provides a free wellness group. This seven-week course focuses on stress management, helping participants identify individual stressors, practice calming activities, and learn various coping skills through psychoeducation.
Sustainability and Recycling
The center plays a significant role in environmental sustainability by preventing items from entering landfills. Surplus donations from Deseret Industries stores are sent to the center to be sorted and processed. Depending on the condition and type of the item, materials are either distributed for humanitarian aid, sold to recycling buyers, or recycled when they are no longer usable. The revenue generated from selling these items is reinvested into the job training program to cover training costs and pay associate wages.
Global Aid Impact
The scale of the Humanitarian Center's operations is reflected in its global impact, reaching more than 50 countries to assist people of all nationalities and religions. Each year, the center processes millions of items to aid those facing adversity or disaster. This annual output includes approximately 300,000 hygiene and school kits, 12,000 quilts, and 8 million pounds of shoes and clothing.
Historical Context and Scale
The organization's environmental impact was marked by a significant milestone in 2025, when the Deseret Industries system recycled more than 80 million pounds of goods. Established in Salt Lake City in 1991, the Humanitarian Center has expanded its scope from pure aid preparation to include these large-scale recycling efforts while maintaining its core mission of service and self-reliance.
Visitor Information
The Humanitarian Center is located at 1999 W. 1700 S. in Salt Lake City. The facility offers guided tours from Monday through Friday, on the hour, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tours typically last approximately 45 minutes.
