Knowing our agency might be able to help, I contacted one of our staff members to see if she was still available as the day was drawing to a close. She quickly replied that she was still in the office and available to help. As I walked the woman to the door, many of the windows in the building were dark. However, this staff member shone bright as she stood close to the door and opened it to greet this woman.

I was overcome with a feeling of compassion for this woman as well as gratitude that my colleague had opened her door to care for her. She was able to locate a place for this woman to stay and helped her get some of the resources she needed.

All of us are in need of help at some time. Later that evening, I was at a service in which the speaker talked about the idea that “we are all walking each other back home.” All of us become lost at some point in our lives, and it falls on each of us to help find those that are lost and help walk them back home.

Community Actions Services and Food Bank (CASFB) offers numerous ways you can help people in need in our own Utah community. And, of course, you can always take opportunities on your own to do good. Here are a few ways you can walk others back home:

Help the hungry

CASFB has the second-largest food bank in Utah, and we rely on donations from the community to support our program. You can help fight hunger in the community by hosting a food drive, dropping off contributions or making a donation. Anything helps; even a dollar can feed a family of four for a day.

In addition to contributing to the food bank, if you know someone who is going through a rough time — whether they lost their job or had a loved one pass away — bring them dinner! Providing a meal, whatever way that might be, is a wonderful way to walk each other home.

Care for children

For those working their way out of poverty, it can be difficult to do so while taking care of young kids at home. Circles Utah Valley is a program through CASFB that assists families in getting out of poverty and becoming self-reliant. They provide a children’s program in which volunteers take care of participants’ children each week during the meetings. Volunteering to watch children takes only two hours per week and is a four-month commitment. Dinner is provided, and it is loads of fun playing with the kids!

Beyond the Circles program, consider offering to babysit for friends and neighbors when they have to work, attend a class or take part in other self-reliance activities. Those friends and neighbors can then develop the skills they need to better provide and care for their children and become a stronger family.

Volunteer with us

CASFB has a number of other programs to help families get on their feet, including financial learning, homebuyer education, community gardens, emergency assistance and more. Sign up online to become a member of our Community Action Services volunteer team! 

And don’t stop there: The Utah Valley community is filled with opportunities to serve. Whatever way you choose to help, you can feel the warmth, compassion and joy that come from doing good in the community.

Everyone goes through rough patches at some point. At CASFB, we do what we can to make those dark moments a little brighter. Our staff diligently works to provide the resources and help they need, and you can likewise join the effort to help walk each other back home.

To learn more about the initiatives and programs provided by Community Action Services, be sure to visit the website.