One in six people in Utah are at risk of missing a meal today. One in five kids in Utah are unsure of where their next meal will come from. These sobering statistics, from Utah Food Bank, illustrate the great need for those of us with extra to give to those who do not have enough.

Last week, I wrote about the challenges that local food pantries face during these summer months, including less food due to the drought, more clients needing food because kids are not in school, extra financial burden of going back to school and many families experiencing financial struggles due to the COVID pandemic. Many people want to help but don’t always know how. Here are a few ideas.

Meat and Dairy

Dairy foods and meat, unfortunately, cannot be donated to the local food pantries. According to Wendy Osborne, Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry founder, these types of foods cannot be accepted at the food pantries because food maintenance at proper temperatures cannot be guaranteed.

“Meats have to come from grocery stores or certified meat-packing plants,” Osborne said. “We have to take the temperature of meats and dairy items when we pick them up. It’s a food safety issue.”

However, there is a way that people can help the pantries to obtain these food items and that is by donating money. “By people donating cash, it helps us to purchase those types of food,” Osborne said.

People can also donate meat at a meat-packing plant, such as a deer or a cow. “As long as we pick it up from the meat-packing plant, we can accept it,” Osborne said.

Fresh Produce Drives or Scavenger Hunts

Trying to think of a fun service activity? Many groups hold fresh produce drives or fresh produce scavenger hunts around their neighborhoods and then donate the items to the pantries or food bank. This is a perfect activity to do this time of year, when local produce is ripe and ready to be eaten.

Fresh produce is often lacking in the diets of the food-insecure. It can be more expensive than other, less nutritious items.

Community Gardens and Sharing

Many communities have community garden spaces for people to do their own planting. In many cases, the people take what they want and the rest is donated to others who are in need.

Another great way to share is to have a designated spot in each neighborhood where extra produce from gardens can be placed. We’ve all been guilty of throwing away those huge zucchinis that we didn’t use. But this way, neighbors can take what they want and some of it could also go to the local food banks and pantries.

Grow a Row, Give a Row

Sometimes, gardeners “grow a row, give a row,” keeping some of the bounty for themselves, while giving half of it away. Others invite people to come and pick what is left and unwanted. Taking that extra to be donated to those in need is easy and will bless the lives of the recipients.

Walk, Run for Food

Utah County is full of people who love to be outdoors, hiking, walking, cycling and running. Why not plan a “Walk for Food” event? For each mile or block or half-hour walked, friends and neighbors donate a can of food or a couple of pieces of fresh produce.

“During the summer months. Tabitha’s Way needs produce from your garden,” said Mike Carter, Tabitha’s Way North County founder. “Our neighbors in need of food appreciate fresh produce and fruit more than anything else.”

Of course, other foods are accepted and appreciated. For more information about donating food, go to tabithasway.org or communityactionservices.org.

Newsletter