Herriman is often known for its family-friendly, community-oriented atmosphere and its spirit of volunteering. The growing city has opened its arms to hundreds of refugees and immigrants from around the world and is home to the Herriman branch of the Columbus Adult Education Center, one of only a few completely volunteer-run immigrant centers in the U.S.

The Hall, Burrell and Ricks families gather on Thanksgiving Day in 2024 to help spread holiday cheer. (Photo courtesy Sherrie Ricks)

Where the town shines the most is arguably in the quiet acts of service performed by ordinary residents for those around them. Young and old, people here serve year-round, and helping others can be especially meaningful during the holidays. Often forming cherished traditions, many seek to “give back” for the comforts they enjoy, and others simply want to meet a need or brighten someone’s day. 

Sweets and treats for first responders

Herriman resident Heidi Mendez Harrison’s annual Christmas tradition of taking treats to Herriman firefighters began two years ago. On Christmas Day in 2023, she took chocolates, candied popcorn and a handwritten thank-you card from her whole family to the city’s fire station to express gratitude and appreciation. “I’m just trying to set an example for my kids and grandkids,” Harrison said. “My family just loves that mom/abuela is doing a good deed on Christmas Day.”

Adeline and Kenneth, grandchildren of Sherrie Ricks, supervise the pie station. (Photo courtesy Sherrie Ricks)

This Christmas, she will continue the tradition, and her two oldest grandchildren will help in the delivery. “I also wanted to thank our Herriman police,” she said. Though the police station was not open to receive treats when Harrison visited in the past, she plans to try again this year.

Smiles, songs and a show 

Every December, the Hall family in Herriman visits retirement homes to sing Christmas carols. “I did this as a child with my mom, and… [we]… have done it every year and have enjoyed taking our children with us…” Bethany Hall said. “This is one of our favorite Christmas traditions!”

Faithfully visiting each resident to chat and sing two or three songs, the family prepares five to 10 musical numbers each year and can even accommodate spontaneous requests.

As the children have grown older, the family has added a reenactment of the Nativity story to their performances, complete with musical numbers, costumes and scripture verses. 

“The senior residents have loved that,” Hall said. 

She and her family have enchanted residents at Beehive Homes of Herriman, the Lodge at Riverton Assisted Living and Legacy Retirement Residence in South Jordan. 

Bethany Hall and her daughters mingle with care center residents. (Photo courtesy Bethany Hall)

For the past several years, the Ricks family from Herriman, friends of the Halls, has also joined in the caroling.

“We have a great time,” Sherrie Ricks said. “Some of us stand and sing. Others sit with residents and encourage them to sing and/or pick carols.”

“We have loved visiting with the senior residents and seeing them light up with the beautiful memories that Christmas music brings to mind,” Hall said. 

While the two families provide much-needed service within Herriman, they also look beyond its borders. 

The Ricks and Hall families have served Thanksgiving dinner annually for over 10 years at Salt Lake City’s Palmer Court, a 201-unit apartment complex supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. “A couple of our neighbors were putting it together and sent out a sign-up,” Ricks said. “We knew right away we wanted to be there.”

Eli Hall makes retirement center residents laugh. (Photo courtesy Bethany Hall)

“We were excited to be a part of it. Our kids were young, and we wanted to help them be a part of a helping and giving tradition,” Hall said. 

In 2021, the 65-unit Magnolia Apartments opened nearby to serve more unhoused individuals, and the two families welcomed these residents to the Thanksgiving table as well. Members of the Ricks family, including Sherrie’s husband, children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren have accompanied her in delighting the residents of the two complexes. 

“My husband, kids and I have [also] enjoyed helping to make the food and serve the meal and visit with the people…” Hall said.  

As Palmer Court is discontinuing the Thanksgiving volunteer tradition, the two families will now serve only around 100 from the Magnolia Apartments. Though other families usually lend a hand, it is still a monumental undertaking, even more so considering all the food is donated or made by volunteers. Each family brings a cooked turkey and side dishes. 

Members of the Hall family visit with residents. (Photo courtesy Bethany Hall)

“I send out a signup genius to my neighbors,” Ricks said. “We actually have three [church] youth groups helping get food ready, and some are donating the food they prep.” 

The families all make sure to arrive a few hours early to prepare and heat the food. Every item and detail is managed by a volunteer—right down to the pats of butter. “Some of us stay in the kitchen to keep food coming fresh,” Ricks said. “And each server asks the resident what they'd like… starting with, ‘Would you like light or dark meat?’”

Volunteers also hold plates for those with canes or walkers, and “table sitters” socialize with residents or fetch any needed items. 

On Christmas Day, Herriman’s Heidi Mendez Harrison delivers goodies to the city’s fire station. (Photo courtesy Heidi Mendez Harrison)

“We still have our Thanksgiving meal with our family, but we just do it later in the day to accommodate this tradition,” Hall said

Both families are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. “It has been a wonderful experience to help teach our children that we are all brothers and sisters,” Hall said. “We can help those around us. Now our kids say that it is their favorite thing about Thanksgiving!”

“Honestly, we love it more than our own Thanksgiving dinner,” Ricks said. “We love talking to the clients of the shelter, hearing their stories, and sharing some love with them. And watching the smiles that come with the pie!”