An incoming Afghan refugee family will arrive to a furnished home. Photo courtesy of Catholic Community Services of Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY — An effort by Ken Garff’s West Valley dealerships and Catholic Community Services furnished an apartment for an incoming Afghan refugee family of five on Thursday.
The Ken Garff Ford and Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Fiat dealerships said they donated $10,000 for CCS to be able to purchase apartment furnishings for refugees in Salt Lake.
The dealerships said this was the first of multiple apartments they would furnish with the assistance of CCS.
Employees from the dealership picked up items from CCS’s Salt Lake City share house at 440 South 400 West. The employees loaded up trucks with furniture and home goods and took them to the family’s future apartment. The family will arrive “any day” according to the dealerships.
“We see a need and fill it,” Brian King, general manager at Ken Garff West Valley Ford said. “Helping others like refugees coming to Utah makes us better. It reminds us of how we are all here to make a difference for the better.”
The dealerships said this service was a part of Ken Garff’s “We’re Hear For You” initiative. The auto dealer said it realized a need for help in the local community in the spring of 2020. The initiative began by purchasing from local businesses, then donating those items to families, teachers, and others in need.
The auto dealer’s Lehi dealership is also helping Afghan refugees by putting together welcome kits.