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Canned goods pile up during a food drive at Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

JAMES ROH, Daily Herald file photo

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Tom Hogan is the associate director of Community Action Services and Food Bank.

Courtesy Tom Hogan

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Through its annual food drive on March 18, the food bank at Community Action Services took in 124,335 pounds of food, according to Chief Operations Officer Tom Hogan.

“Using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pounds of food per meal calculation, this donation represents 103,612 meals that we will be able to provide to individuals in our service area,” Hogan said.

For some context, the nonprofits’s 2019 food drive brought in 85,218 pounds of food. This year showed a 46% increase from then. The food drive did not take place last year.

The March food drive in past years was handled by the Boy Scouts of America National Parks Council. The initiative is now handled through an arrangement between the food bank and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“We’re hoping we are on track for a yearly event,” Hogan said. That’s important as inflation and interest rates continue to rise, as does rent. Income is flat with many unable to keep up with economic changes.

Hogan looked back at the first quarters of 2021 and 2022 and saw a 10% increase in food going out of the food bank to families and individuals. At the end of this year’s first quarter, those numbers have jumped 30% in the poundage of food being handed out.

“In March, more food came in than out for the first time in 12 months,” Hogan said. “This community is remarkable.”

However, more food drives will be needed. May 13 is the annual Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food drive when U.S. Postal Service workers will pick up nonperishable items on doorsteps to be delivered to the food bank. Letter carriers will be leaving reminder cards at residents’ doors for the food drive.

“The letter carriers drive does pretty good, averaging about 80,000 pounds,” Hogan said. “People are feeling the interest rates and inflation. It’s hard for folks to get a break.”

Hogan said that while the food bank still helps the homeless and poor, the majority of those being serviced are working — and working hard — but not able to make ends meet.

“We’re just under 8,000 individuals a month served. It used to be about 4,000 people,” Hogan said. “We have seen a steady increase.”

“I feel horrible for the young marrieds who are looking for homes and start a family,” he added.

Hogan believes in the gifts of giving. “Karma is really out there,” he said. “If you do your small bits, it comes back to you.”

Hogan said the needs are significant. The food bank can use all of the following: canned meats, stews, chili, beans and tuna; canned vegetables and fruit; peanut butter, jellies and jams; boxed meals like macaroni and cheese; rice; and soups.

Paper and hygiene products are also needed, including toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, feminine hygiene products, hand soap, dish soap and washing detergents.

“Anything you would have in your pantry, we need in ours,” Hogan said.