Deseret Industries Works Hard to Make a Big Impact In the Community

Deseret Industries is one of nearly 50 stores providing used and new items for people in need. They are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based out of Salt Lake City, and have been in business since 1938. The Shoreline branch opened in 1982.

“Our goal is not to be huge but make an impact,” says the Shoreline store manager, Barry West.

The concept of the thrift store came around the time of the Great Depression, providing donated goods at affordable prices. They also helped people who were struggling to find employment by creating a job skills program.

“Our goal is to get 32 people placed in full time jobs after they’ve gone through their program," West said.

Anybody can apply for the Deseret Industries job skills program. First they need a referral from a Bishop, a leader within the Mormon Church, and then they will be placed in an area of need within the store. Once they are working at the store they can also take classes at a college or other skill based programs, helping them achieve their employment goal. Deseret Industries aids them financially in their education if not pays for the whole thing. 

“The funds for those programs comes from the sales of the goods,” West said.

When a person enters the job skills program their plan is based on their needs, some are offered a job for a few weeks and some a number of months.

This year West admits it’s been tough to find jobs for all their employees. The job market is tight and many are competing for the same jobs.

“We track people and typically they do find jobs,” West says.

Self-reliance is an important aspect within the Mormon Church and is of equal importance at Deseret Industries.

At their factory in Salt Lake City employees from the job skills program are taught how to build beds and mattresses, utilizing high quality materials. They ship the beds to all Deseret Industries locations and offer them at low, thrift store, prices.

“We’ve helped thousands of people find more permanent and better employment since we opened our doors in the early 1980s,” West said.