Julie Farr
Julie Farr and her family began the nonprofit Hearts Tied Together in 2016 with the ongoing effort to give a fleece tied blanket to refugee children settling in her home state of Utah. Each blanket comes with a note expressing warm welcome. The note is meant to “tie” the donor with the recipient and the recipient to the donor.
The charitable organization collects donated blankets of any kind to supply people and groups of all ages in need.
The organization started small as a family service project. Farr and her family set up the website and other tools they needed to spread the word about the project. Then they started collecting blankets to distribute them where they are needed. The effort has expanded to embrace thousands of people donating blankets and thousands receiving them—beyond Utah.
“The organization was started with the belief that we are all tied together as children of God, and that one person can make a difference in the life of another,” said Farr, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She explained to the Church News that she wondered what one person could do during the refugee crisis of 2015–2016.
- Farr heard two talks in April 2016 general conference, the first from Sister Linda K. Burton, “I Was a Stranger,” and the second from Elder Patrick Kearon, “Refuge from the Storm.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then second counselor in the First Presidency, then made tearful remarks about his own experience as a refugee, and Farr knew she needed to act upon the impressions she received.[1]
In 2016, Hearts Tied Together responded to a request for help for Armenians from the Armenian Apostolic Church of Salt Lake City. That began their partnership, and in five years, 3,197 blankets had been sent to Armenia.[2]
Additonally, Farr and her nonprofit have donated in the United States to Catholic Community Services, International Rescue Committee, Utah Refugee Connection, Your Community Connection, Family Promise, Youth Futures, Lantern House, Curt’s Cuddles, Christmas Box House, NPHY, and police departments.
