Community Action Services and Food Bank announced today that it has been judged Best in State for 2020 in the category of Charitable/Service Organization.

Best of State is an annual awards program designed to recognize organizations, businesses and individuals who excel in their endeavors, use innovative approaches or methods and contribute to a better quality of life in Utah.

“We are overwhelmed by the significance of being listed among the very best of the state of Utah,” said Karen McCandless, executive director of Community Action Services and Food Bank. “Our team of amazing employees and dedicated volunteers all happily and tirelessly work to provide services for our neighbors in need. It’s so gratifying to have all their hard work recognized in such a meaningful way.”

Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB) has been serving Utah residents since 1967, helping foster self-reliance in individuals and families by offering a wide variety of services to help people in need:

  • Emergency assistance: Food, shelter, emergency rent help, transportation and more
  • Education: Homebuyer courses, one-on-one financial counseling, income tax help and more
  • Circles Initiative: Program that helps low-income families stabilize, build self-reliance and move out of poverty
  • Community garden: Plots available for a small fee every summer
  • Commercial kitchen: For food startups; operates on a sliding-scale fee based on income
  • Food bank and pantries: Locations in Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties
  • Kids Pak program: Provides a backpack of food for low-income children in elementary school to take home every Friday

Last year, generous donors gave more than 3.4 million pounds of food, including more than 1.35 million pounds from stores through the Grocery Rescue program. The agency distributed 3,425,528 pounds of food to people in need in our community, serving 10,614 families and 26,784 individuals. CAFSB sent 40,832 backpacks full of food home on Fridays with elementary school students in need, donated 89,772 pounds of food to senior centers in the three-county area, and had approximately 500 volunteers help serve the community throughout 2019.