At that time, Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry in Spanish Fork had been in operation for six years, founded by Wendy Osborne, and at that time was helping about 4,000 people per month to put food on the table.

Hoping to curb the hunger of children, veterans, seniors and families who were food insecure, Utah Valley residents Mike Carter and Al Switzler decided to follow in Osborne’s footsteps by opening Tabitha’s Way North County in American Fork, 920 E. State Rd.

“Al and I met for lunch one day about eight years ago. I had just had a picture come into my mind of a sign that said ‘Entering Pleasant Grove, a No Hunger Zone,'” Carter said. “I wondered what it meant. That same day, Al’s wife Linda asked him what they could do to help people in Utah County. We went to lunch that day and felt like we were supposed to do something together.”

After a few months of meeting with the Utah Food Bank, Carter and Switzler figured out that opening up a food pantry to serve families and children in Utah County was what they should do. At that time, they had no idea that the need in northern Utah County was so great.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

They expected they would help a few hundred people each month, and that is what they did the first year. This year, the food pantry is helping an average of over 7,300 people each month. In fact, the number of people going to the pantry for help has doubled since last year. The main cause, according to Carter, is inflation.

“We have so many people who come in that tell us they never thought they would ever find themselves in a food pantry. They were the ones that volunteered and donated food to others, now they are receiving help,” Carter said. “We really didn’t have any expectations, other than to provide whatever help with food that was needed. We had no idea that the need would grow to this point and that we would have to build such a large enterprise to fulfill that need. We have been so fortunate that our community has provided the food, funds and volunteering when we have needed it.”

According to Carter, the average person receives assistance for about three months, then they are back on more solid ground. Community members who donate food, time and money are to thank for helping their neighbors during these temporary setbacks in life. Not only is this work important, but very fulfilling. For information about helping or donating, check out tabithasway.org.