Estimated reading time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Food Bank is anticipating what could be the largest ever holiday demand for food assistance.
“This holiday season is looking very different for the Utah Food Bank than in recent memory given the current economic climate,” Utah Food Bank President and CEO Ginette Bott said in a press release earlier this month.
Not only is the demand for food increasing, Bott said, it is also coming from food insecure families.
“People who have really stretched their budgets as far as they can go are now looking to us for help,” she says. “It’s a tough first step for families to take.”
Stubborn inflation has caused households to pay more for almost everything, Bott said. The rising prices are forcing families to make tough decisions on their budgets.
“Do they heat the house or do they buy the food? Do they put gas in the car or do they buy the food? They’re tough decisions and they have an impact on the family and it’s sad to watch,” she said.
In addition to inflation, families are facing uncertainty about the economy and supply chains around food, Bott said. Also, it would cost the Utah Food Bank more to distribute food around the state.
The food bank said it saw a spike in demand for food aid during the outbreak, and that demand has stagnated due to inflation. Last fiscal year, the organization served 67.3 million pounds of food, which is 56.1 million meals.
“Every pantry we serve — and there are 230 of them in the state — is telling us they need more food,” Bott said. “This tells us that the problem is far from over.”
One of those food pantries is Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry in Utah County, which told KSL-TV that the week before Thanksgiving, America’s Fork Pantry set a record for the number of people stopping by for food.
The Utah Food Bank’s annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive is currently underway and runs through January 15th. Utahns can drive by making a food or monetary donation, or by organizing their own food or fund drive.
Click here to learn more about the Holiday Food and Fund Drive.
Photos
The most recent Utah stories
Lad EganMore stories you might want
.
[ad_2]