Our Charitable Community

In January 2019, a record number of women—of diverse races and religions—entered the halls of U.S. Congress. We congratulate these empowered women who will likely bring women’s issues to the foreground and into better focus. Women’s empowerment may seem like a new phenomenon, but in reality, at least in America, the seeds of this movement were planted as far back as 1864. Girls Inc., originally known as Girls Clubs of America, formed to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War. Girls Clubs of America aimed to create a safe gathering place...

According to Feeding America, 40 million people face hunger in the U.S. today — including more than 12 million children and more than five million seniors. In Utah, 382,000 people—one in eight overall, and one in seven children—live with the daily threat of hunger. Last year Utah Food Bank, founded in 1904, distributed 39.2 million pounds of food, the equivalent of  32.7 million meals, to individuals and families throughout the state. Housed in an 86,000-square-foot warehouse stacked floor to ceiling, the food bank’s Salt Lake City distribution center actually has no pantry. Rather, it distributes food and supplies to 149...

Have you ever experienced complete silence? It’s exceedingly rare. In our daily lives, we’re constantly receiving input. Traffic noise is always in the background. Heating, cooling, electrical systems—these sounds are constant. We even hear music and commercials while we pump gas. The first time I experienced complete silence was in the Southern Utah desert. It was profound. I was sitting outside in the Arches National Park campground. When a hawk flew overhead, I could hear its wings beating. That’s when I truly fell in love with the desert. Utah’s redrock country is indescribable. Its five national parks, scattered across the...

When the Mormon pioneers first glimpsed the Salt Lake valley, it’s said that in addition to the huge, salty lake, there was a single tree in the entire valley. In response, the pioneers got busy planting acres of trees of all kinds. These newly planted trees provided not only fruit, but oxygen, shade and of course, beauty. Trees are, in fact, our partners on the planet. Through photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. A single tree can absorb up to 330 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, while providing enough oxygen for a whole family. As an integral thread...

Mother Nature had a ferocious fall. Three massive hurricanes reigned destruction on parts of Texas and Florida, and most, if not all of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. California wildfires were the most ferocious in history. And Central Mexico sustained massive damage from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. Any one of these disasters would require an overwhelming amount of aid. But when so many disasters occur within a short period, the ability to render significant help is stretched very thin. And there’s much confusion over which organizations are capable of helping most efficiently. Hugger Mugger has chosen to donate a percentage of our...

When Burmese refugees Win and Khin La were relocated to Utah, they were directed to Youthlinc, a non-profit humanitarian organization. They enrolled in the organization’s “Real Life: Peer to Peer Mentoring” program to learn the basics of navigating the culture they’d just entered. Native-born peers, who served as volunteers for the program, taught them the basics of living in a foreign culture, such as understanding finances and how and where to shop, and they helped them with English language practice. According to Youthlinc’s website, “Real Life focuses on supporting refugee and immigrant teens who suffer from a variety of issues as...

When the Mormon pioneers first glimpsed the Salt Lake valley, it’s said that in addition to the huge, salty lake, there was a single tree in the entire valley. In response, the pioneers got busy planting acres of trees of all kinds. These newly planted trees provided not only fruit, but oxygen, shade and of course, beauty. Trees are, in fact, our partners on the planet. Through photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. A single tree can absorb up to 330 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, while providing enough oxygen for a whole family. As an integral thread...

Yoga for Cancer Survivors at Sundance Resort October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From now until December 31st, your Hugger Mugger purchases will benefit A Quality Life Community (QLC). Founded as a resource for cancer survivors and their families, QLC provides complementary support—including free yoga classes at six different Utah locations. The organization’s founder, Amy Conn, sent us the message below, sharing her experience as a cancer survivor and her inspiration to found this wonderful organization: by Amy Conn A Quality Life Community celebrates our cancer survivors every day, but in October we get the opportunity to not only...

 When most of us hear the word “hospital,” the first adjective that comes to mind is probably not “cheery.” And yet, Salt Lake City’s Shriners Hospital for Children fits that description. The color-studded building sits atop a hill surrounded by an expansive green lawn. As you walk in the front door, you’re greeted by life-sized renditions of Alvin and the Chipmunks.Shriners Hospitals have a long, storied history. Conceived at a 1920 meeting of Shriners International Fraternity, their mission is to provide orthopaedic care to children 18 and under regardless of their ability to pay. From the first Shriners Hospital, founded...

The Family Place “You’ve got to have training for every job in the universe except for parenting,” says Esterlee Molyneux. “That’s where we come in. We help parents build on their skills, so that they have a strong foundation.” Esterlee is the executive director of The Family Place, a facility that’s part of a network of 13 child and family support centers throughout Utah. The Family Place’s mission is twofold: building stronger families and protecting children. Their mission is accomplished through the center’s two arms: The Family Place and the Starfish Children’s Shelter. In the past year, the two arms combined...