Utah library helping to feed hungry children

Utah library helping to feed hungry children

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KEARNS — Libraries are a haven for many, including children and teens who need a safe place to go after school.

Located within walking distance of several schools, the Utah Kearns Library, part of Salt County Library System, harbors 50-100 youth after school every day.

“Many of our youth come in at 3:00 in the afternoon and stay until 9:00 at night when the library closes,” said Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, the teen librarian.

And most of these youth come to the library hungry.

“I’ve had a hungry teen ask me for food, or money to buy food at the nearby gas station," Rogers-Whitehead said.

In Utah, one in five children is unsure where his or her next meal will come from. To help, the Utah Food Bank partnered with the Salt Lake County Library System in November 2014 to ensure that some of the children who rely on the safe haven of the library have something to eat.

“Sadly, many of these families can’t afford to enroll their children in the alternate after-school programs where our Kids Cafe meals are served, so they turn to the library system for help," said Ginette Bott, chief development officer for the Utah Food Bank.

The State of Utah offers grants to organizations through the Utah Food Bank to serve snacks and meals to at-risk areas, which are usually offered to a set group of participants like schools. However, the Kearns Library qualified for this grant as well because all the surrounding schools are Title 1 eligible. Title 1 schools serve low-income and high-risk populations.


Sadly, many of these families can't afford to enroll their children in the alternate after-school programs where our Kids Cafe meals are served, so they turn to the library system for help.

–Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank


From 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., anyone under 18 may receive a free snack of grains, usually crackers, and fruit, like applesauce or raisins. Youth are encouraged to have more than one serving.

This has been a favorite project for the library staff.

“When I was young, if you had money you ate; if you had no money you didn’t eat," said volunteer Juan Zavala, who grew up in Mexico with little to eat. "I feel happy these kids have what I didn’t.”

Rogers-Whitehead spoke with some of the students, and a 12-year-old boy said, “People are nicer when they have food.”

A 13-year-old girl added, “I wish more libraries would do this.”

Jennifer Fay, Kearns Library's manager, has observed a positive change in the children who now have a snack every day: “It’s very hard for them to be able to learn or behave appropriately with empty stomachs," she said.

Kearns is the first public library in Utah to offer this kind of service, but many similar partnerships are popping up throughout the country.

"We want this to be a pilot project that spreads to other locations," Fay said. "Other libraries have already expressed interest in starting their own programs.”

For more information, including ways to help, visit the Utah Food Bank or Salt Lake County Library Services.


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About the Author: Teri Harman -----------------------------

Teri Harman, author and book enthusiast, writes a monthly column for KSL.com and contributes book-related segments to "Studio 5 with Brooke Walker". Her novels "Blood Moon" and "Black Moon" are now available in stores and online. Join in the magic at teriharman.com.*

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