As the holidays approach, we’re reminded of the season’s spirit: sharing, caring, and coming together as a community. But for many Utahns, this time of year is shadowed by uncertainty. While you’re busy making your list and checking it twice, we invite you to reflect on those in our community who are facing impossible choices—like the 1 in 6 Utah children who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Your support can transform their season, bringing relief where there is hunger and hope where there is uncertainty.
The holidays can be an overwhelming time for those facing financial challenges. Parents on tight budgets often find themselves weighing the cost of heating their homes against putting food on the table. For individuals on fixed incomes, even a minor unexpected expense can disrupt their carefully managed finances. Meanwhile, parents with children at home during winter break face the added strain of providing extra meals, turning an already stressful season into an even heavier burden. These struggles are not only practical but deeply emotional, overshadowing what should be a time of celebration and togetherness. The pressure to fill a stocking or wrap a gift can push parents to make unimaginable sacrifices, such as skipping their own meals to bring even the smallest joy to their children.
Yet, in the midst of these challenges, we see the profound impact of compassion and community. At our Southeastern Distribution Center in Blanding, volunteers recently came together to assemble a critical mobile pantry order for Navajo Mountain, ensuring remote communities received the nourishment they needed. In southern Utah, our mobile pantries continue to be lifelines for those who lack reliable transportation. One client, after an unexpected medical expense drained their monthly budget, shared how our Beryl Junction mobile pantry provided essential support along with dignity and compassion in a time of vulnerability.
These moments of relief and hope are made possible by people like you. Your support of Utah Food Bank helps ensure that no one in our community must choose between feeding their family and staying warm.
How You Can Help
We’re committed to Fighting Hunger Statewide, but we can’t do it without you. Here are a few ways you can get involved this holiday season:
- Give Food: Participate in food drives hosted by businesses and organizations across Utah as part of our Holiday Food & Fund Drive, or drop off donations at any of our locations.
- Give Time: Volunteers are the backbone of Utah Food Bank. Last year, their efforts were equivalent to 88 full-time employees, helping us distribute food free of charge across the state.
- Give Money: Every $1 you donate allows us to provide $7.80 worth of goods and services. Whether it’s a one-time gift or becoming a Monthly Meal Maker, your support makes a real difference.
- Host a Fundraiser: Use our JustGiving platform to organize a DIY Fund Drive—perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or workplace initiatives, and it can be done in just minutes!
There’s no shortage of ways to make a difference, and your generosity—whether through food, time, or money—directly impacts the lives of our neighbors experiencing hunger. Together, we can bring hope to Utah families in need this holiday season.
Special thanks to our Holiday Food & Fund Drive sponsors: my99.5, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Harmons, Riverton Chevrolet, and Wells Fargo.