Luisa E. Lema
Luisa Elena Lema worked for Crossroads Urban Center
in the emergency food pantry for 20 years until her death on October 3, 1999.
Luisa was a compassionate soul who was fiercely dedicated to meeting the needs
of low income Utahns. A native of Lima, Peru, where she worked as a teacher,
she became a U.S. citizen in 1975.
Luisa was known for her tireless commitment, kindness to children and the time
she took to converse with people who came to her for help with food.
Once, when pressed to explain the complexities of Crossroads’ mission,
Luisa replied simply, “We help poor people.”
No one ever said it better and did it so well.
The Board of Directors of Crossroads Urban Center was honored to dedicate the
pantry facility as the Luisa E. Lema Emergency Food Pantry at Crossroads Urban
Center, on October 3, 2000