If you’re finding you don’t have enough money to buy food and urgently need food items, one of the following 10 top food banks in Utah will be able to help.
1. Utah Food Bank
The Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been serving its community for over a century. The volunteers who staff the food bank collect and store food in a central warehouse for redistribution to food pantries, soup kitchens, and child nutrition programs across their city and surrounding counties. They also work with federal programs to provide commodities to the elderly, delivering directly to their homes when necessary.
If you would like to volunteer your time or make a donation, the information to do so is on their website. Contact a member of the food bank’s staff with any questions.
2. Earth Community Garden
The Earth Community Garden has spent the last decade working with the Central Utah Food Pantry to bring fresh produce and non-perishable groceries to the residents of Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to helping those experiencing a food shortage by giving them bags of much-needed nutritional items, the volunteers offer classes on how to build your own personal or community garden and food preparation for storage.
You can donate or volunteer to further their reach. Contact a volunteer involved with the program if you would like to learn more.
3. Food and Care Coalition Soup Kitchen
If you are looking for a hot meal in Provo, Utah, you need to look no further than the Food and Care Coalition. In 1986, local ministers, business owners, and other community members worked together to form this organization aimed at tackling hunger in their community. Through generous donations, their food kitchen can offer three meals per day, six days a week, and one meal on Sundays.
Donations of food, money, and time are always welcome. If you would like to volunteer or know more, contact information can be found on their website.
4. Community Action Service Food Bank
The Community Action Service Food Bank in Provo, Utah, serves as a storehouse for donations and reclaimed food items that can be redistributed to families in need of supplemental grocery items. In the 55 years since they were founded, they have been instrumental in tackling food poverty in their area. In addition to providing meat, dairy, produce, canned foods, and dry foods via a choice style pantry, they create packages for school backpack programs aimed at feeding children during out-of-school hours such as breaks and weekends.
If you would like to donate or get involved, you can do so online. Contact information can be found on their website.
5. Utah Food for Families
During the start of the pandemic in 2020, residents of West Jordan, Utah, realized that many people would be looking at food insecurity. They took quick action, forming Utah Food for Families. This food pantry provides pre-packed boxes of frozen meats, dairy, produce, and shelf staples to help fight hunger in their area. One day per week they operate a drive-thru pickup to pass out much-needed food to recipients.
You can donate or volunteer to join the cause. Contact a member of the staff if you want to learn more or need assistance.
6. Choice Humanitarian
Since its formation as a charity by activists in 2016, Choice Humanitarian in West Jordan, Utah, has worked with its local community and others all around the world to educate them on sustainable roads out of poverty. They offer education on community gardening, local nutrition programs, and liaison with local food banks to meet the nutritional needs of those in their community and lift them out of food poverty.
If you are interested in donating or volunteering, you can do so online. Get in touch with them for any additional questions or needs.
7. Switchpoint Soup Kitchen
Are you in St. George, Utah, and not sure where your next meal is coming from? The Switchpoint Soup Kitchen can help you with that. They prepare meals for hungry members of their community five days per week, ensuring that everyone has at least one hot meal each day. For emergency food assistance they can help through their community garden and pantry, providing shelf staples and produce, as available.
Volunteer or donate via their website. If you would like to know more about their services or have other questions, reach out to someone on their contact list.
8. The Bishops’ Storehouse
The Bishops’ Storehouse, an outreach of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ogden, Utah, is committed to lending a hand up to members of their community who have fallen victim to food insecurity. The food they provide is free of charge. Instead of money, they ask that you accept work based on skills in order to compensate for the costs of provisions. They also offer consultations with trained church staff to determine what measures they can help recipients take to overcome obstacles toward achieving food security for themselves and their families.
Donations and volunteers are accepted through the church. You can contact a member of staff to learn more about what they have to offer.
9. Open Doors Food Pantry
What began as a small childcare facility has grown to include many more resources for the low-income residents in Layton, Utah. Forty years later, they are providing for their community by distributing pre-boxed groceries meant to work with existing food supplies to stretch grocery budgets a lot farther. Additionally, they provide help for lifting families out of poverty so they can reduce reliance upon community assistance.
If you are interested in lending a hand or donating funds to help meet their goals, you can do that online. Contact information is available for all other inquiries.
10. Alex and Sally Lebwohl Food Pantry
Jewish Family Services have been helping out their fellow man since they were established in the 1870s. They operate the Alex and Sally Lebwohl Food Bank, in Millcreek, Utah. This facility distributes non-perishable food items based on household size one day per week to all who arrive for help, with no requirements regarding income, identification, or citizenship. When available, they may also provide fresh produce and other items. The pantry operates as a drive-thru, with volunteers loading boxes into vehicles.
Volunteer to help their cause or make a donation, if interested. They can be contacted directly if you’d like to know more.
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