High inflation and high housing prices have hit many families hard in Utah, Summit, and Wasatch Counties. In January through October of 2022, we’ve seen a 116 percent increase in the number of unduplicated people who’ve utilized our food pantries compared to the same period in 2021. This year, we’ve more than doubled the amount of individuals served from 5,398 individuals in 2021 to 11,695 in 2022.
Increasing Needs Strain Donations
The ever-increasing number of individuals needing food has put a huge strain on our food supply. And donations are not keeping up with the increased needs. In July through October of this year, we distributed 24 percent more food (1,389,129 lbs.) than was donated to us during that same time period last year (1,061,784 lbs.). This shortage has reduced our food bank inventory by 41 percent. We urgently need your help so struggling families can keep putting food on the table.
How to Help
Your donations go a long way to helping us meet the needs of families and individuals in our community. And there are plenty of ways you can help. Here are specific ways you can make donations to CASFB:
- Donate food. If you need it in your pantry, we need it in ours. Think about what you typically buy: milk, eggs, cheese, bread, meat, vegetables, and fruit. Those are the very kinds of things we need. One way to help is each time you make your grocery trip, choose to buy double of a few things. Then, on your way home, drop them off at our Provo location (815 S. Freedom Blvd.). If you want to go the extra mile, give us a call to see what we are in need of that week. Or watch our #givingtuesdaynow challenges for things like turkeys, hams, and other items that help feed families during the holiday season.
- Donate cash. Cash donations allow us to buy food in bulk at wholesale prices. Our pantry managers keep a close eye on items for which we are running low. With your donations, we can make larger purchases that help us fill in those gaps. It’s easy to make a donation to CASFB: Simply use our donation page to send us a donation in any amount. If $1 can feed a family of four one meal, imagine what a donation of $100, $1,000, or even more can do!
- Sponsor a food drive. Hosting a food drive is a great way to get your family, friends, church group, scout troop, school club, or organization involved in helping the community. We offer lots of advice on how to host, share flyers, and find additional information on our Food Drive page. Encourage your group to donate specific items the pantry is in need of, and then make arrangements to drop your items off.
- Enroll your food service business in our grocery rescue program. Grocery rescue donations come from local grocery stores with leftovers who generously donate those items to CASFB. Between July and October of this year, we received an average of 121,056 lbs. of food through grocery rescue. And with needs increasing every day, we could use even more. If you would like to join our grocery rescue program as one of our donors, please contact wesleyt@communityactionuc.org for more information.
Our Current Needs
What we need in our pantry is what you have on your shelves. Here is a list of our current needs, but we welcome any and all donations:
- Canned tuna, chicken, or beef
- Granola bars
- Snack cups
- Seasonings (salt, pepper, cinnamon, and maybe taco mix)
- Breakfast cereal or other breakfast foods
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Chilli
- Canned Soups
In the nonfood category, we can always use the following:
- Bleach
- Laundry soap
- Bar soap
- Baby wipes
- Shampoo
- Feminine hygiene products
- Household cleaning supplies
As mentioned above, you can drop off your donations at our Provo location (815 S. Freedom Blvd.) between normal business hours.
Spread the Word
We count on the generosity of individuals, families, and organizations to help those suffering from food insecurity in our communities. One of the best ways you can help is by sharing this message with others! Share what CASFB does with your friends and neighbors. Suggest that your organization regularly work with CASFB to make donations, host food drives, or volunteer. Take a moment to follow us on social media, and then share our posts when we have a need. By taking a moment to let people know what we do, you can help us spread the word about our initiatives and services to help our local community.
This holiday season, please consider helping to refill our food pantry and ensure that no family goes hungry. Let’s make sure every individual in our community gets the help they need. Contact us to learn more about CASFB and the various ways to volunteer, donate, or help out. We need all the helping hands we can get!