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Coco Warner ReportingThe Utah Food Bank is gearing up for its biggest food drive of the Holiday Season. The food they receive this weekend pretty much lets them know whether or not the goal for the year will be met.
The Food Bank hopes to receive 2 million pounds of food through donations by December 25th. Right now it's about half way to reaching that goal.
Volunteers from a local group who help people with autism wanted to serve another group of Utahns today, the hungry.
Connie Yardley, CTA Community Support: "We've done a big food drive at our organization and actually it's been really awesome. Our goal was to get 1500 pounds and we got 7,450 pounds."
Anne Curry, CTA Community Support: "So we wanted to do something that was giving back to our community."
Jamie Nadle/Americorp: "I think it's orange and cranberry cake, they smell good."
These Americorp volunteers are re-packaging bread to make it easier to distribute to families. It's that time of year when people reach out.
Amberlie Phillips, Utah Food Bank: "We do have the alliance for unity food drive on Saturday and that's our biggest day of the year, so it's a really important day for us. And after that day we'll be able to say, okay it's going to be great or, oh no, we're going to be struggling a little bit."
The Utah Food Bank depends on people's generosity. They're hoping to get a big response this weekend after local congregations encouraged their members to help their neighbors by donating food. Anything and everything is appreciated, but some items are a bit more helpful.
Amberlie Phillips, Utah Food Bank: "Canned meats, canned stews, canned tuna fish, peanut butter, canned vegetables, boxed meals, macaroni and cheese is something we love to get because it's something that's familiar."
Besides donating canned goods, you can also donate your time. The food bank always needs help sorting.
Amberlie Phillips: "Volunteers come here, they get a brief orientation and then they sort the meals into 20 different items, canned fruits, pastas, boxed meals, ethnic foods."
In fact, another group of volunteers is expected to do some more sorting tonight. If you don't have one already, The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News will include brown paper bags within the newspapers this coming Thursday.
