Inside the Humanitarian Center's New Location: How Your Donations Make an Impact
On May 27, 2026, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated the opening of a new location for the Humanitarian Center—one of DI’s job training facilities. Now located at 1999 W. 1700 S. Salt Lake City, 84104, the 250,663-square-foot center has more space for associates, updated facilities, more energy-efficient systems, and a refreshed interactive tour.
While the building itself is new, the mission of the Humanitarian Center remains the same: to offer humanitarian aid to the world, to support people seeking refuge through empowering job training, and to care for the earth through recycling efforts.
None of this would be possible without the donations first received at Deseret Industries. Every item donated represents an opportunity to help someone gain skills, find stability, or receive needed aid. Your DI donations make a difference at the Humanitarian Center and beyond.
How Your DI Donations Help Others
Deseret Industries and the Humanitarian Center work together to ensure every donation is used in the most meaningful way possible, helping as many people as they can.
When you donate to a Deseret Industries thrift store, your donations are either made available to purchase in that store, shared with another store to sell, or sent to the Humanitarian Center, depending on need.
Job Training
Proceeds from the sale of items at Deseret Industries locations are used to pay associate wages and cover the cost of job training at all DI facilities. This training helps associates build both personal and practical skills and prepares them for better employment.
At the Humanitarian Center, associates have the opportunity to:
-
Learn marketable skills such as forklift operation, food service, and maintenance.
-
Learn important workplace behaviors such as dependability, professionalism, and teamwork.
-
Receive personalized support from a supervisor.
-
Work with a development counselor to overcome challenges to employability.
-
Earn certifications that prepare them for future careers.
Associates working at the Humanitarian Center can also spend half of their paid shift participating in English and computer classes—resources especially important for those who are seeking refuge or building a new life in the United States.
Sustainability
Donating secondhand goods to Deseret Industries helps keep usable items out of landfills—reducing waste and caring for the environment. Many of these items find new homes after being purchased at DI stores. Others are sent to the Humanitarian Center, where they’re prepared for humanitarian use or responsibly recycled.
Humanitarian Aid from Donations
When items are sent to the Humanitarian Center, associates sort, package, and prepare them to be sent to support humanitarian efforts around the world. Any items that don’t meet the quality threshold for reuse are instead carefully recycled.
Sorting, baling, and recycling are just one category of practical skills Humanitarian Center associates can learn to prepare for future work success.
See the Journey for Yourself
Want to see this impact for yourself? You can tour the Humanitarian Center to get a behind-the-scenes and interactive look at how DI and the Humanitarian Center work together to help people in need.
The new tour experience allows groups of up to 20 people to follow the journey of an associate—from arriving as one seeking refuge to gaining skills, training, and work experience at the Humanitarian Center. Throughout the tour, you will also see how this work connects to broader efforts to care for people in need and how you can serve and care for others in your own community.
You can schedule a tour by calling 801-240-5954 or visiting the Humanitarian Center facility webpage for more information. Walk-in tours are also welcome. Expanded tour hours are planned for April through October 2027 as part of the Salt Lake Temple Square Celebration.
Extending Your Impact Beyond the Store
When you donate or shop at Deseret Industries, your impact goes beyond your local store. Through the Humanitarian Center, your contributions help provide job training, support humanitarian efforts, and promote responsible reuse. Each donation plays a role in helping someone gain skills, find stability, or receive needed aid.
These humanitarian efforts include:
-
Disaster relief
-
Food and clothing distribution
-
Clean water projects
-
Self-reliance support
Find a DI store location near you and be part of something bigger—making a difference one donation at a time.
Recent Posts
How Deseret Industries Helped One Associate Build a New Life
For Mila, working at Deseret Industries has provided flexibility to navigate life while also preparing her for future employment opportunities.
What Deseret Industries Tags Mean—and How to Use Them
From price tags and color rotation to sold tags on furniture, lear what tags at Deseret Industries mean so you can shop smarter at DI.
Building Skills and Confidence at Deseret Industries
Follow Miles’s journey as a Deseret Industries associate as he builds skills and confidence through the Deseret Industries job training program.
Why Moms Love Shopping at Deseret Industries
Meet three moms who love shopping at Deseret Industries—for affordable finds, meaningful moments, and a mission that supports families and communities.
