News

Divorce is often an emotionally and financially devastating event, but here in Utah, where family sizes are larger than the national average, it can have particularly devastating consequences for women and children. Economic hardship following divorce is well-documented, and when combined with rising costs of living, many families find themselves facing not just financial insecurity, but also food insecurity.

Sabrina, a single Utah mother works as a special education teacher at a local school. Despite juggling two jobs and pursuing her own academic goals, Sabrina faces the challenge of stretching her time and financial resources to meet the demands of caring for two young sons.

The Financial Toll of Divorce on Women

In the year following parental separation, the financial drop-off is particularly severe for women, as they are statistically more likely to experience post-divorce poverty than men. Research indicates that one in five women experience divorce poverty, and one-third lose their homes. Additionally, many women do not receive full child support or alimony, further exacerbating financial struggles.

For many single mothers like Sabrina, the financial blow of divorce is compounded by challenges such as lack of recent work history, childcare responsibilities, and difficulty securing flexible employment. Many divorced mothers struggle to find jobs that pay a livable wage, increasing their reliance on programs such as WIC, school lunches, and other assistance programs. The latest data tells us 75% of women who file for assistance programs do so as the result of a divorce. Read that statistic again.

The Cost of Divorce and Its Impact on Family Budgets

The economic downturn following divorce has a direct effect on children as well. Financial resources previously available for the children are reduced by a 41% in the year following divorce or parental separation. With Utah’s higher-than-average family sizes, many divorced Utah mothers face and even greater economic hardship than their counterparts.

Sabrina’s dollars must be stretched even further, as both her sons have significant food allergies. Every trip to the grocery store is a balancing act to ensure she can provide both safe and nutritious food for two growing boys.

Utah Food Bank Childhood Programs

The intersection of divorce and food insecurity highlights the vulnerability of children. In addition to distributing food through a statewide network of 270 partner agencies across the state, Utah Food Bank offers several direct service programs to help address childhood hunger:

• Kids Cafe seeks to fill the nutrition gap that exists during out-of-school hours with nutritious after-school meals. Last year alone, this program provided 441,471 meals to children at risk of hunger.
• Mobile School Pantries complement both school meal programs and our other childhood hunger programs by providing a cost-effective food distribution point for children and their families at the end of the school day in a safe and trusted environment—the school. The impact of this program has been astounding—last year, we reached 456,087 individuals, 246,150 of whom were children.

To join us and support Utah families facing these challenges, click here to donate or volunteer. With your help, we can help ensure a brighter future for all Utahns striving to overcome financial hardship.

On Saturday, March 15th, faith-based congregations, organizations, and residents across Utah are teaming up with Utah Food Bank for the fourth annual statewide Feed Utah to support our mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide. This food drive is crucial to help restock quickly emptying shelves, and we are asking for everyone’s help!

It’s easy to get involved! Be on the lookout for door hangers at your home this week.  Fill any bag or box with non-perishable food donations and leave them near your front door before 9 AM on March 15^th, for pick-up.

New this year, all financial donations made online using the QR code or online link will be matched up to $65,000 in total! With this donation match opportunity, that means Utah Food Bank can stretch each $1 donated into $15.60 worth of goods and services for our neighbors facing hunger. You can support this match by clicking HERE.

Donated food should be commercially packaged, 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. Please no glass items.

Your donations will be picked up by local volunteers and church organizations starting at 9 AM March 15th and delivered to various sites across the state.

Drop-off locations include Utah Food Bank’s Salt Lake, Springville, Blanding, and St. George warehouses, all Macey’s Grocery, Lee’s Marketplace and Lin’s locations throughout Utah, and participating pantry locations. For all Feed Utah donation drop-off site locations, please click HERE.

Your contributions will help feed the estimated 415,000 Utahns and 1 in 6 Utah kids facing food insecurity.

Here’s how you can help:

• Leave your donations outside your front door by 9 AM on Saturday, March 15th.
• Most-needed items include canned meats, peanut butter, boxed meals, and canned fruits and vegetables. Remember, donated items should be non-perishable, commercially packaged, nutritious. Please no glass items.
• Scan the QR code on the door hangers to double your financial donation, or do so directly online HERE.
• Sign up to volunteer to help receive food donations on March 15^th  HERE.

Ginette Bott, President & CEO of Utah Food Bank, emphasizes the ongoing need for support as we prepare for one of the hungriest summers yet.

Your participation matters. Let’s show our support for our neighbors who are unsure of where their next meal will come from. Together, we can make Feed Utah 2025 a huge success! For further information, click HERE.

February is often called the month of love. Valentine’s Day reminds us to celebrate the people and connections that matter most. But love can go far beyond roses and chocolates—it can be a warm meal shared with someone in need, a grocery bag filled with essential items, or a simple act of kindness that reminds people they’re not alone.

The Growing Need in Utah

Hunger is an issue that touches every corner of Utah. More than 415,000 Utahns are food insecure, including 1 in 6 children. These families aren’t worried about what they will eat for dinner… They’re worried if they will have dinner at all.

The reasons for food insecurity vary. Rising housing costs, unexpected medical bills, job loss, and inflation have left many families stretched thin. Often, parents skip meals to ensure their children are fed, or seniors on fixed incomes choose between buying groceries or medication. Access to healthy food should never be a matter of chance, cost, or circumstance.

Why Giving Matters

At its heart, food is more than sustenance. It’s a symbol of care, comfort, and connection. A warm meal can provide not only physical nourishment but also hope and reassurance during tough times. When you donate to Utah Food Bank, you’re not just filling bellies—you’re showing families that they matter and that their community supports them.

Here’s some of the ways you can share your heart with our neighbors facing hunger:

• Give Food: Non-perishable items like canned goods, peanut butter, pasta, and rice are staples for many families. Every can or box you give helps fill an empty pantry and brings relief to someone who might otherwise go hungry.
• Give Time: Volunteering time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. Whether you’re sorting food in our warehouse, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, your efforts directly impact lives.
• Give Money: With our partnerships and resources, we can turn $1 into $7.80 worth of goods and services for those in need. Your financial gifts help us keep shelves stocked, fuel our delivery trucks, and get food to all 29 counties statewide.

Programs That Spread Love Year-Round

At Utah Food Bank, we operate several programs that provide support to families:

• Mobile Pantries: A drive-through food distribution resource for families in need of nutritional assistance.
• Kids Cafe: Filling the nutrition gap that often exists during out-of-school hours for many children who rely on free or reduced-price meal programs during the school day.
• Mobile School Pantries: This program provides a cost-effective food distribution point for children and their families at the end of the school day in a safe and trusted environment—the school.
• Food Box Programs: We deliver monthly boxes of nutritious food to help to homebound seniors and people with disabilities stay healthy and independent.

These programs, and many more, are strengthened by your gifts of food, time, and money.

How You Can Help

Here are a few ways to make an impact:

• Host a Food Drive: Gather your friends, coworkers, or community group to collect non-perishable items. Every can counts!
• Donate Online: A financial donation is one of the most efficient ways to support our mission. From our secure donation link, you can opt to make a one-time or recurring donation.
• DIY Fundraisers: A DIY Fundraiser can be anything you want it to be! Create a unique fundraising page, share the link with your friends and family, and all donations are processed securely through our JustGiving platform!
• Volunteer: Sign up for a shift at our warehouse or explore other volunteer opportunities statewide.
• Spread Awareness: Share our mission on social media and encourage others to get involved. Together, we can amplify the message that food is love.

Fighting Hunger Statewide Together

As you celebrate Valentine’s Day this month, let’s extend that love beyond our homes and into our communities. Whether it’s a box of mac and cheese, an hour of your time, or a financial gift, every contribution is a symbol of care and compassion.

In 2025, our mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide remains an urgent challenge, and one group continues to highlight the complexity of the issue: A.L.I.C.E.

A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This represents working families who earn above the federal poverty threshold but still do not qualify state or federal assistance programs like SNAP or WIC. Despite being employed, these families grapple with stretching their limited resources. Many economic factors play a role, but housing costs and rising cost of food stand out as a significant contributors. Utah’s lack of affordable housing is well-known and felt by many residents.

In 2024, 38% of Utah households fell below the A.L.I.C.E. threshold, highlighting the persistent struggle for financial stability. Families in this category often face impossible decisions—prioritizing rent over groceries, delaying essential medical care, or cutting other necessities to make ends meet. For many, one unexpected expense can trigger a crisis.

We know that hunger wears many faces: a mother in Hurricane Valley, a senior in San Juan County, or a child awaiting a summer meal. The latest Voices for Utah Children report shows that 68% of families require dual incomes to cover housing and other basic needs, emphasizing that A.L.I.C.E. families are doing everything they can, yet they remain in line for food assistance. They live in the precarious space between self-sufficiency and poverty.

“Together, we are Fighting Hunger Statewide and working toward a future where every Utahn has access to nutritious food,” emphasizes Ginette Bott, President & CEO of Utah Food Bank. “Our mission relies on collective efforts. Gifts of food, time, or money make a tangible difference for families in need.”

Meeting the rising demand is an uphill battle. The looming threat of a “Hunger Cliff”—where progress in combating food insecurity stagnates or reverses—underscores the urgency of the situation. Without help, hunger rates across Utah communities will only get worse.

To join us and support Utah families facing these challenges, click here to donate or volunteer. With your help, we can help ensure a brighter future for all Utahns striving to overcome financial hardship.

As we bid farewell to 2024, we are reminded of the countless Utahns who face the harsh reality of hunger every day. Rising costs of housing, food, and other essentials have placed enormous pressure on hardworking families, forcing impossible decisions between putting food on the table or meeting other basic needs. This holiday season, you have the power to make a monumental difference—and thanks to the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, your generosity can go twice as far.

We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity to double your impact. From December 27 through December 31, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation has pledged to match every donation made to Utah Food Bank, up to $100,000 in total! Even more compelling, with this matching grant, every $10 you give will provide $156 worth of goods and services to individuals and families in need. This is a chance to make a tangible difference in your community.

The demand for food assistance in Utah has reached unprecedented levels. Skyrocketing prices have left many of our neighbors struggling to afford even the most necessities. In these challenging times, your compassion can be a lifeline.

By participating in this matching gift opportunity, you’re not only doubling your donation—you’re doubling the hope for a brighter future.

How You Can Help

Time is of the essence. The matching gift offer ends at midnight on December 31. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Donate Online: Visit the link to make your secure, tax-deductible donation today.
• Spread the Word: Share this with friends and family to maximize its reach.

As we approach 2025, let’s come together to support our mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide. Your generosity will not only provide food but also bring hope to those who need it most. This is your chance to make a lasting impact and help create stronger, more resilient communities throughout Utah. Together, we can make this a season of giving that truly changes lives.

Click here to double your donation today!