SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Food Bank will hold a statewide “Feed Utah” food drive on March 18 and they are making it easy to contribute. 

The charity is working with several faith-based congregations, organizations and residents in Utah for this second statewide food drive. 

Utahns can help by placing a bag of non-perishable food outside their front door by 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, for pickup. 

Food donations can also be taken to drop-off sites across the state like, Utah Food Bank’s Salt Lake and St. George warehouses, any Macey’s Grocery locations, and participating pantry locations. Other community sites where food can be dropped off can be found online.

Other ways to help

Residents can help the effort in more than one way. In lieu food donations, funds can be given by using the QR code on the door hangers that will be distributed the week of March 13.

Additionally, the food bank needs volunteers to help receive food donations. After gathering the donations, volunteers will pick up donated food and deliver it to the  Utah Food Bank or participating partners.

Food donations

Food donations should be commercially packaged. Additionally, foods should be non-perishable and nutritious (ideally low-sodium and low-sugar items).

Food bank officials say most-needed food items include beef stew, chili, peanut butter, boxed meals, canned meats and canned fruits and vegetables. 

The food drive is a joint effort and partnership between Utah Food Bank and its partner agencies. Those include Macey’s Grocery, JustServe and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to a press release, donations collected will help provide food to an estimated 289,000 Utahns. 

“It is rewarding to see so many partners working alongside us to fight hunger statewide” said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President and CEO in a press release. “We are still distributing record-setting amounts of food as the need for assistance remains high thanks to rising food costs and other inflationary pressures. Your support is needed now just as much as during the height of the pandemic.”

To find out more about Feed Utah, including how to sign up to volunteer, donate online or find your nearest food drop-off location, visit the Utah Food Bank web page.

Related reading:

• Springville Utah Food Bank groundbreaking part of expansion
• Inflation hitting Utah Food Bank patrons and donors
• Utah Food Bank says COVID-19 has scared away volunteers