Thanksgiving came a few days early for more than 2,000 people in need as the Utah Jazz and the Salt Lake City Mission hosted a holiday meal in the Delta Center on November 26. In what is becoming a holiday tradition, people who might not otherwise receive a holiday meal come to the Delta Center to enjoy turkey and all the trimmings.
The Utah Jazz and Delta Center joined forces with the Salt Lake City Mission four years ago. Before that holiday season, the Salt Lake City Mission had been hosting an annual Thanksgiving dinner in the Salt Palace. The Salt Palace was not available for the following year and it looked like the tradition would have to end, according to Phil Arena, who moved to Utah four years ago to work for the Salt Lake City Mission.

Utah Foods had been providing the food for the meals in the Salt Palace. When that location became unavailable, Utah Foods still wanted to provide this service. "They told us that if we could find a building, they would provide the food," Arena explains. "At that time, one of our employees knew Brent Allenbach who works for the Delta Center. Through Brent, we were able to start this tradition. Now, there are so many people involved here with the Jazz and the Delta Center. This has become such a wonderful event. Just look around. This day means so much and is such a great part of what we do all year at the Mission."