Donate by leaving food outside your door to help Utahns experiencing hunger
On Saturday, March 16, faith-based congregations and other organizations will collaborate with Utah Food Bank for the third statewide Feed Utah food drive. Residents across the state will receive door hangers during the days leading up to the food drive, and the public is asked to support this initiative by placing a bag of non-perishable food outside their front door by 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 16. Volunteers will pick up donated food, then collect and deliver it to Utah Food Bank’s warehouses, Macey’s Grocery, Lin’s, and agencies and partner locations across the state. This effort is the result of a partnership between Utah Food Bank and its partner agencies, Macey’s Grocery, Lin’s, JustServe and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These donations will help provide food to the estimated 317,000 Utahns, and 1 in 10 Utah kids, who are unsure where their next meal will come from.
Donated food should be commercially packaged (non-glass), non-perishable and nutritious (ideally low-sodium and low-sugar items). Most-needed food items include beef stew, chili, peanut butter, boxed meals, canned meats and canned fruits and vegetables.
Residents can participate in a variety of ways, including leaving a bag of non-perishable food donations by their door, donating funds using the QR code on the door hangers that will be distributed to homes, or volunteering to help receive food donations. Drop-off sites across the state include Utah Food Bank’s warehouses in Salt Lake, Springville, St. George and Blanding, any Macey’s Grocery or Lin’s location, participating pantry locations, and other community sites. To find out more about Feed Utah, including how to sign up to volunteer, donate online or find your nearest food drop-off location, visit www.utahfoodbank.org/feedutah.
“There is power to make a difference when so many groups and individuals collaborate to help fight hunger statewide,” said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President & CEO. “This food drive comes at a crucial time as donations from the holidays begin to thin, but the need for assistance remains high as people are facing sky-high costs of living and inflation.”
According to David Rice, President & CEO of Associated Food Stores, “As a locally owned company, we truly care about the communities we serve. Food isn’t a choice—it’s a necessity. We know food insecurity has always been a concern in our communities, especially when it comes to Utah’s youth. We’re grateful to be in a position to help make a difference for our neighbors who have the most need by participating in the Feed Utah food drive.”
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Utah Area Presidency is grateful for the kindness, goodness, and Christlike service of all people in Utah. Many are living the two great commandments: loving God and loving our neighbor. Thank you to all who are aware of those struggling with many issues of our day, seeing them with compassion and acting to lift and ease their burdens,” according to Elder Kevin W. Pearson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Area President. “We invite all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our friends of other faiths and neighbors in Utah to participate in the upcoming Feed Utah Food Drive. We invite people of all ages and means to consider donating food, time, and other resources to this worthy cause. We know that by so doing, we will be blessed for our efforts as we bless the lives of those who need help. May we joyfully serve, see our brothers and sisters with genuine compassion, and follow our Savior’s example of ‘going about doing good.”
