Hundreds of people make their way to the doors of MOSAIC Inter-Faith Ministries each week. The unassuming building in South Salt Lake offers much more than food and community; it’s a place where dignity is restored, worth is valued and hope finds a way.

MOSAIC Associate Director Jose Bonilla describes it as “an oasis, where we serve all continents of the world.”

Rev. Dr. Leslie Whited has been running the ministry for nearly 30 years. By offering community programs like the Manna Market and food pantry, the More Blue Sky Employment Center and the Green Waters Health Center, MOSAIC has become a gathering place for people of all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds.

Serving one out of every 25 Utah residents, the nonprofit provides in-home senior services, refugee integration and education basics for college education or employment. Thousands of volunteers dedicate time to build the community for good.

“If you participate in diverse service, you can’t help but love all people. It’s who you come to know and come to love, and I think that’s true here,” Whited said. “When people touch the face of MOSAIC, they’re transformed. Whether they come as a volunteer, a board member, or a client, they experience an uplift in their life.”

Located at 20 W. 2700 South, MOSAIC recently added a new case management focus to help expand services to the thousands of people who visit the nonprofit each year. A funding grant will cover costs for the program that allows MOSAIC to meet basic needs while addressing issues related to housing, employment, health and education.

Enobong Nissi is a community health worker at MOSAIC. She found the organization 10 years ago when her son was trying to get a bus pass for public transportation. Now, her son has a job that allows him to travel all over the world.

“Education is number one. If we want to help people to live a full life by coming here all the time to get food, we need to talk to them about education and we have to help them get a job,” Nissi said. “Education doesn’t mean you have to go to college. It’s not a full life to come and get food all the time. There’s something better than that and that’s education, and that’s a job.”

MOSAIC’s services are supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who help run the Manna Market Drive-Thru and the Manna Pantry, and jump in to assist when needed.

Mary Peery volunteers with MOSAIC. She joined the organization four years ago after retiring from the medical field. She felt isolated during retirement and wanted to contribute her time to a worthy cause.

“It’s a fun place for companionship, for friendships,” Peery said. “We all have different ideas, different ways of living our lives and it’s good to know everybody here.”

Like many service-oriented nonprofits, MOSAIC lost federal funding over the last year and relies heavily on donations from the public and state organizations. Items like new educational toys, blankets, sports equipment, books, household furnishings, healthy foods and cleaning supplies are always needed.

Contributions can be made online at lssu.org, or donations can be dropped off at the South Salt Lake location.

MOSAIC Inter-Faith Ministries is a member of several groups, including the Enriching Utah Coalition, the Salt Lake County Mayor's Council on Diversity Affairs, the State of Utah Defendant/Offender Workforce Development Task Force and the Utah Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

In 2021, the organization was honored by the Salt Lake Inter-Faith Round Table for its service to create a diverse Utah. It’s just one of a long list of awards for MOSAIC’s decades-long dedication to the community.

“We’re a big advocate for people of all sizes, ages and colors. I believe every generation has a gift to give, and the youth I’m involved with are very diversity-minded,” Whited said. “I’ve lived outside of Utah for several decades, but in Utah, I feel it’s a lot more diversity-oriented and it’s a lot more service-oriented than other places I’ve lived…It’s not transactional. It’s about grace.”