Welfare Square Bakery: A Salt Lake City Institution for Community Service and Humanitarian Aid

Welfare Square Bakery Introduce

Introduction / Overview

For those in Utah, the name

Welfare Square

carries a deep and significant meaning that extends far beyond a typical commercial facility. The Welfare Square complex, of which the

Welfare Square Bakery

is an integral part, is a central hub for the global welfare and humanitarian efforts of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

. Located in Salt Lake City, this institution is dedicated to the principle of self-reliance, providing essential material assistance to poor and needy individuals and families, both members of the Church and others in the community, with the goal of helping them become self-sufficient.

The

Welfare Square Bakery

is not a retail establishment where the general public can purchase goods. Instead, it is a

production facility

—a large-scale, industrial kitchen where countless loaves of bread and other baked goods are created and packaged. These products are then distributed to those in need through the Church’s extensive network of

Bishops’ Storehouses

, often compared to supermarkets without tills, that supply food and household necessities free of charge to recipients who receive an order form from their local ecclesiastical leader.

The bakery’s operation is largely powered by a rotating body of

dedicated volunteers

who selflessly contribute their time and effort. This unique model of service is at the heart of the bakery's mission, making it a powerful symbol of community care and the value of work. It is an institution founded on the core values of personal responsibility, thrift, and work, established during the Great Depression to help people help themselves. For local Utah users, understanding the bakery is understanding a profound piece of the region's commitment to community and humanitarian aid.

Location and Accessibility

The

Welfare Square Bakery

is physically located within the larger Welfare Square complex in Salt Lake City, situated just west of the downtown area. The address is

780 W 800 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, USA

. This strategic location allows it to serve as a central supplier and coordinator for other welfare efforts across the region and beyond.

Welfare Square is highly accessible to the public, particularly for those interested in learning more about its operations. The complex offers free, guided public tours that showcase its various facilities, including the grain silo, cannery, milk processing plant, Bishop's Storehouse, and, of course, the bakery.

Key accessibility features include:

Wheelchair Accessibility: The entire Welfare Square complex, including the area where the bakery can be viewed as part of a tour, is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a
Wheelchair accessible entrance
and
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
.
Parking: There is generally
plentiful parking
available for visitors and volunteers alike.

Services Offered

The services offered by the

Welfare Square Bakery

are focused on production and community support, rather than direct retail sales to the general public.

Production for the Needy: The primary service is the large-scale production of essential baked goods, such as bread, which are distributed
free of charge
to individuals and families with documented needs via the Bishops’ Storehouse system.
Volunteer Opportunities: The bakery operates with the invaluable help of
rotating volunteers
from surrounding stakes (congregations). This is a core service, providing opportunities for community members to give back and for recipients to work in exchange for assistance, fostering self-reliance.
Educational Tours: The bakery is a popular stop on the free, guided tours of the Welfare Square complex. Visitors get a firsthand look at the
food production
process and learn about the Church’s expansive welfare system and humanitarian efforts globally.
Self-Reliance Emphasis: The work done in the bakery contributes to the larger Welfare Square goal of promoting self-reliance, with recipients of aid often encouraged to
volunteer their time
in facilities like the bakery to earn the goods they receive.

Features / Highlights

Mission-Driven Operation: The bakery’s most significant feature is its
humanitarian mission
. It operates as a non-profit production unit, ensuring high-quality staples are available for the poor and needy in Utah and beyond.
Volunteer-Powered Success: Customer reviews consistently highlight the
great staff
and the deeply rewarding experience of
volunteering
at the bakery. It is a place where thousands of hours of service are logged annually, creating an atmosphere of shared purpose and upliftment.
Integral Part of Welfare Square: The bakery is one part of a vast, integrated system that includes a 178-foot
grain silo
(which supplies the wheat), a cannery, a milk processing plant, and a Bishops' Storehouse, showcasing a complete farm-to-table process for humanitarian aid.
Educational and Family-Friendly Tours: The free tours are a major highlight for Utah families, offering a unique opportunity to
witness food production firsthand
and teach children about the importance of service and community contribution. Visitors often get a sample of the products created on the square.
Historic Significance: Welfare Square was established in 1938, making the bakery an enduring part of a
historic Utah landmark
and a long-standing symbol of the Church’s commitment to providing for the temporal needs of people during difficult economic times.

Contact Information

To inquire about general information, guided tours, or volunteer opportunities at Welfare Square, please use the following contact details:

Address: 780 W 800 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, USA
Phone: (801) 240-4872

What is worth choosing

For people in Utah, the

Welfare Square Bakery

is an establishment worth choosing not for its retail products, but for its

opportunities for service

and its powerful educational value.

If you are a community member in the Salt Lake area, choosing to dedicate time as a volunteer at the bakery is a highly recommended and impactful experience. As attested by long-time volunteers, working alongside the staff and making new friends while helping others provides a

cherished and rewarding experience

. The bakery staff are known for being "great and always accommodating," fostering a positive environment for service. For those with morning availability, the volunteer shifts typically run from 9:00 AM to around 1:00 PM, depending on the day's production needs. This is an incredible way to actively participate in the local humanitarian efforts that provide basic necessities to Utah families in need.

Alternatively, for local families and groups, taking the

free guided tour

of Welfare Square—including the bakery viewing area—is a fantastic, educational choice. It offers an essential understanding of the Church's welfare system and humanitarian outreach. Watching the bread production and seeing the large-scale operation is highly engaging and provides a memorable, tangible lesson on the importance of service, compassion, and self-reliance, leaving visitors with a deep appreciation for the

great services

and good work being accomplished right here in Salt Lake City. It is a genuine, non-commercial experience that underscores the spirit of giving in the Beehive State.

Welfare Square Bakery Details

Service options
Delivery

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Welfare Square Bakery Photos

Welfare Square Bakery Location

Welfare Square Bakery

Utah Salt Lake County Salt Lake City Poplar Grove West 800 South

780 W 800 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, USA

Welfare Square Bakery Reviews

An average rating of ★4.8 from 36 user reviews.

volunteerwork

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I used to volunteer there for 4 yrs 2007 to 2011 i loved every minute of it. Every time customers enter the doors of welfare square i always greet them with a smile. Welfare square is such a great place with great services. My most experiences that i will always cherish forever is when i was a customer service host which i love cause i get to help out customers with getting everything they need. I loved volunteering there because i get to meet new people and make new friends and i love being around people and kids that needs help!!
August 28 · Taiana Folau
My wife and I love volunteering at the bakery! The staff there are great and always accomodating. They do only work a morning shift now from 9am to around 12:30-1:00pm depending on size of order, so be mindful of that when thinking of availability to serve.
January 17 · Scotty Pressley
Working at the bakery is the best! The supervisors are so nice and thorough. It smells so good and you get to take home a free loaf when you're done. Last time we went there so many volunteers showed up that we were done in an hour!
November 21 · Allison Brownlee
What a fun place to volunteer. It is a bread production plant. I don't know who can volunteer, but call for information. They bake and package more than 2600 loaves a day, 5days per week.
December 13 · Janis RB
Great place that always smells fantastic. Fresh bread is incredible. The work they do for the needy is marvelous.
October 10 · JTC