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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. 

Happy GivingTuesday! This year, we’re thrilled to share some exciting news: an anonymous donor is doubling the impact of your generosity by matching every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000! Your support can transform lives, especially for the 1 in 6 Utah kids who worry about where their next meal might come from. With this incredible match, a $10 donation today provides $156 worth of essential goods and services for families facing hunger.

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round initiative that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

As Utahns navigate the rising cost of living, the need for support has never been greater. Families and individuals are struggling with tough choices—keeping the heat on, staying housed, or putting food on the table. Jill, a retired senior, shared her story:

“Being retired, it’s hard to make choices for healthy food when my financial circumstances are so tight. The meat, the fresh fruit, the dairy – it’s all so expensive right now. When I can, I like to contribute to Utah Food Bank as well. What a blessing this food is, and such a gift.”

No one in our community should have to face hunger, especially during the holidays. GivingTuesday is our chance to come together, embracing the season of generosity and making a tangible difference. Every gift ensures that twice as many Utahns will receive the nourishment they need to thrive.

Let’s make this holiday season a celebration of unity, kindness, and hope. Join us today in spreading warmth and care to our neighbors in need. Together, we can create a brighter future for everyone in Utah.

Click HERE to help make the holidays a little brighter.

Food insecurity is a growing challenge across the nation, and Utah is no exception. Here in Utah, many face a hidden struggle to secure enough nutritious food, and the need is only increasing. At Utah Food Bank, we are committed to addressing this issue, especially as the number of people experiencing hunger across the state has risen significantly. The statistics are sobering: 1 in 8 Utahns, including 1 in 6 children, are food insecure. These are not just numbers—they represent our neighbors, classmates, and loved ones. Today, 415,000 Utahns face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from—a sharp increase of nearly 100,000 in just the last year. 

Hunger is not limited to any one season; it’s an ongoing struggle. Rising housing costs and other economic pressures are making it increasingly difficult for many families to afford necessities like food, housing, and healthcare. Food insecurity is part of a larger cycle, where families are often forced to make difficult choices between basic needs, such as paying rent, keeping the lights on, or buying groceries. These impossible choices have a profound impact on physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. 

According to a report from Feeding America, people across the U.S. experienced a $33.1 billion gap in funding for basic food needs in 2022. Yet, nearly half of those affected will not qualify for aid. This shortfall—the highest in two decades when adjusted for inflation—is largely driven by rising food prices and other economic factors. More than 40 percent of U.S. households struggle to afford the basics, often forced to make daily sacrifices just to get by.  

At Utah Food Bank, we provide a wide range of programs that offer immediate help to families. We recognize that food insecurity is a complex issue that requires sustained collaborative efforts. Although Utah has made strides in addressing food insecurity, the demand for food support is growing faster than our resources can meet it, underscoring the importance of a community-wide response. 

Your support—whether through your gift of food, time, or money —is essential to help us fight hunger and create a healthier, more stable future for all Utahns. Your kindness today can give our neighbors not only the food to survive but also the food to celebrate and share. 

Many Utah families are struggling with rising living costs, and two groups are feeling the pressure more than most: Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.

According to the 2024 Financial Literacy Survey, 13% of Americans—including many in Utah—are not making enough to cover their basic needs. Another 46% are barely staying afloat. For Utah’s Gen Xers (ages 44-59) and Baby Boomers (ages 60-78), the situation is even more complex. Despite managing to cover their expenses, many are living paycheck to paycheck. Nearly half of Baby Boomers ages 60-64 report they’re just getting by, and half of Gen Xers say they’re struggling to make ends meet.

Gen X is often referred to as the “sandwich generation” because many are balancing care for both aging parents and adult children. In Utah, where the costs of housing and healthcare are on the rise, these dual responsibilities are amplifying financial strain.

Meanwhile, Utah’s Baby Boomers are facing another challenge: retirement. Many spent their working years navigating economic instability, making it difficult to save enough for retirement. Now, with healthcare costs soaring and the senior population growing rapidly in Utah, Baby Boomers are finding themselves financially vulnerable during what should be their golden years.

This financial stress doesn’t just affect bank accounts—it impacts basic survival. Living on fixed incomes, many seniors are forced to make heartbreaking choices between paying for life-saving medications or putting food on the table. Utah Food Bank has stepped in to help. Through programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Utah Food Bank provides much-needed food boxes to seniors like Sherrie. For the past year, volunteers have consistently delivered these food boxes to her doorstep. Recently, one volunteer brought not just food, but a bouquet of roses, a small but meaningful gesture that moved Sherrie to tears.

Utah’s Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are facing unprecedented financial challenges, but Utah Food Bank is there to provide relief. Whether through food, time, or money, every contribution helps alleviate the burden on these vulnerable generations. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those struggling to make ends meet.

As we approach September 2024, Hunger Action Month remains a critical time to raise awareness about food insecurity and make a lasting impact in your community. This year, we have an incredible opportunity to amplify our efforts: an anonymous donor has pledged to match donations up to $50,000, allowing us to double our impact and work toward our goal of providing 400,000 meals this month.

In 2024, the financial pressures on Utah families are higher than ever. With homebuyers needing a median household income of $142,828 to afford a typical home in Utah, many households are forced to allocate more of their income to housing. This leaves less for other essentials, including food, exacerbating food insecurity across the state. Rising home prices and mortgage rates continue to strain budgets, pushing more families toward the brink of hunger.

Here are six ways you can make a difference:

1. Make a Donation

Your financial support is vital, no matter the amount. Every dollar donated in September will be matched, up to $50,000, effectively doubling your contribution. This is a powerful way to maximize your impact and help us reach our goal, especially when you consider that even without a donation match, each $1 donated is equivalent to $8.36 worth of goods and services! To double your donation today, please click here.

2. Spread the Word

Share this campaign with your friends, family, and social media networks. The more people who know about Hunger Action Month, the greater the impact we can make together. Follow and engage with us on social media (@utahfoodbank on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) to stay updated on our progress and to help spread the message.

3. Volunteer

If you have the time, consider volunteering at Utah Food Bank or one of our 245 partner agencies across the state. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization—last year, we benefited from over 184,000 volunteer hours, equivalent to 89 full-time employees. Your time can truly make a difference. Sign up today!

4. Host a Fundraiser

Get creative and organize a fundraising event in your community or workplace. Whether it’s a virtual fundraiser, a bake sale, or a charity run, your efforts can help raise critical funds. You can even create your own online fundraiser with a unique URL to share with your network. Learn more about how to host a DIY fundraiser here.

5. Learn About Hunger

Take the time to educate yourself and others about the causes and impacts of hunger in our community. Understanding the challenges faced by those experiencing food insecurity can motivate others to join the cause. Our website features stories and resources that can help deepen your understanding, especially our collection of stories from the neighbors we serve.

6. Host or Support Local Food Drives

Participate in or host a local food drive to collect non-perishable items for Utah Food Bank. Food drives provide a diverse range of items that we might not receive through commercial donations or purchases, allowing our clients to choose foods that suit their families’ tastes and needs. Sign up to host a food drive here.

Your contribution—whether it’s a gift of food, time, or money—can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and families facing these challenges. By coming together during Hunger Action Month, we can provide hope and nourishment to those who need it most.