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Mark Comer of the 5 Star Legacy Foundation loads a meal into a vehicle during a Thanksgiving giveaway at Tabitha's Way in Pleasant Grove on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Frozen turkeys to be passed out as part of Thanksgiving meals during a holiday giveaway at Tabitha's Way in Pleasant Grove are pictured Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Rows of drivers wait to receive meals during a Thanksgiving giveaway at Tabitha's Way Local Food Pantry in Pleasant Grove on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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A Tabitha's Way Local Food Pantry truck is shown outside of the facility during a holiday meal giveaway Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Volunteers work to distribute Thanksgiving meals during an annual giveaway event at Tabitha's Way in Pleasant Grove on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Volunteers and cars are shown during a Thanksgiving meal giveaway event at Tabitha's Way in Pleasant Grove on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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As families grapple with increased costs of living brought on by inflation, many are turning to local food banks to help fill their refrigerators and pantries.

The Utah Food Bank says it is seeing an elevated need from families and individuals needing to put food on the table.

Ginette Bott, the group’s president and CEO, told KUER the current demand for food is just as high as during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — or possibly even higher.

In Utah County, Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry says it also is seeing an increase in the number of people needing food assistance, among other resources the agency provides.

“We’re about a little over 11,000 individuals a month that we’re serving between Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs,” said Tabitha’s Way Community Relations Coordinator Kara Smith. “From last year, I would say that’s almost doubled.”

In efforts to ease the financial burden on families and individuals, Tabitha’s Way held its annual Thanksgiving meal giveaway Monday.

The event was held at the organization’s newest pantry in Pleasant Grove, where just under 600 dinners were handed out, and its Spanish Fork pantry, where roughly another 600 meals were distributed.

“We’re excited to do it because there are so many people, particularly with the way the economy is, with inflation, medical problems and other needs that people have in our community, with the influx of people from other countries — all those reasons and many others. Many people just don’t have an opportunity to be able to celebrate for the holidays,” co-founder Mike Carter said.

While noting that those factors are some of the reasons for the increase in people using Tabitha’s Way’s services, he said growth also plays a role, specifically in the northwest part of Utah County.

The organization’s Saratoga Springs site also reportedly is seeing a huge uptick in people requesting help.

According to Kristi Larson, client relations manager at the Saratoga Springs satellite pantry, the number of families served has increased from 40-50 families a week to around 270 families a week since the location opened nearly a year ago.

“The people that come in are just saying that they just can’t afford their groceries and their rent. It’s just becoming impossible, even with two salaries in their family,” Larson explained. “So they’re trying to pay for day care as well as rent, and then groceries and gas on top of that is just really hitting them hard.”

For more than eight years, Tabitha’s Way has been committed to tackling food insecurity and helping those in the community who may be experiencing various forms of poverty.

The Thanksgiving meal giveaway is one of many ways the pantry works to ensure families aren’t going without, especially during the holidays.

But it requires a lot of work and help to pull it off.

Dozens of volunteers showed up Monday to help load vehicles up with turkeys, rolls and other food items that recipients will use to prepare a full-course holiday meal.

Mark Comer, co-founder of the Highland-based 5 Star Legacy Foundation, says his organization has been a supporter of the event and Tabitha’s Way for several years. The nonprofit’s mission is to help break the cycle of poverty with a focus on supporting children.

“We’ve made donations to help get turkey dinners, and then (we) wanted to come and just help participate,” Comer said. “There’s a lot of people in need, and it’s awesome to be able to help other people out when you get the opportunity.”

His daughter, Presley, a senior at Lone Peak High School, echoed that sentiment, saying she felt it was important to donate her time for the event.

“I think this is something that all kids my age should do because I think it helps them learn to serve other people, and I think that’s really important when you’re growing up,” she said.

Leaders with the pantry thanked the many volunteers, people and organizations who made donations to make the yearly event possible.

Tabitha’s Way will host a similar holiday meal giveaway just before Christmas.

“If you’re having food insecurity in your family, and even if you’re not sure if you qualify, come over and check it out,” Carter urged of community members. “We don’t want any children, particularly any seniors, and any families to go hungry that don’t need to.”