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SPRINGVILLE — When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and organizations nationwide were forced to reevaluate, the Utah Food Bank noticed that hunger in the state was changing.
The change forced the organization to "dream big" in a way to meet a growing need. The first of those changes was marked on Tuesday with the groundbreaking of the Utah Food Bank Timpanogos Distribution Center in Springville. The new center is the first of a multi-pronged expansion project to establish a network of distribution centers across the state.
"We started this project when we noticed that hunger around us was changing," said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank president and CEO. "When COVID-19 made us stop and reevaluate and forced us to think about new options, I'm pleased that people around us were brave enough to dream with us about what could be and then for them finding the courage to help us start this."
The Timpanogos Distribution Center, located at 855 South and 1900 West, will allow the Utah Food Bank to offer services and programs previously unavailable and expand current programs in Utah County — such as food box programs for homebound people, hot evening meals at after-school educational sites, both community and school mobile pantry programs and grocery rescue.
While Salt Lake and Utah counties experience similar rates of hunger, food resources are more accessible in Salt Lake, according to Utah Food Bank. Despite being more than double the size of Salt Lake County, Utah County is only served by seven food pantries.
The gap in food resources will continue to grow along with the population of the county which has increased by a staggering 27.7% in the last 10 years.
The 10.6% of residents and 11.2% of children that face hunger in Utah County will continue to increase the numbers of those in need as the population grows. Regional expansion statewide has led Utah Food Bank to expand in many areas.
"It's always incredible to have growth and to see change and to see expansion — whether it's of cities or of counties — but with all of that comes then folks who need help," said Bott.
The Utah Food Bank's multiprong plan includes expansions of the Utah Food Bank West Wing, the Southern Distribution Center in St. George, the creation of the Southeastern Distribution Center in Blanding and two San Juan County pantries.
The plan is intended to help the Utah Food Bank meet the increasing need in an efficient way, said Bott.
"We have upwards of 70 vehicles on the road. Our fuel expense is our biggest expense, it's not our food at Utah Food Bank. We had to find a way to bring that down," said Bott. "We still have to have our trucks but they will just be traveling fewer miles — with that, money can be redirected. Hopefully we can buy different products, more food. We can be a better help to the communities we're going into if we don't have to put all of our money into transportation."
Population growth is a factor in the increased need for food resources, as are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.
"The increase for the need or for help changed so quickly and so dramatically at the start of COVID. So many people who had been able to provide for their family who had not ever had to have services like this found themselves in a situation where they needed help," said Bott. "And then inflation sets in. These families now — the very same families — it's almost a double whammy for lack of a better term."
Increased inflation was also mentioned by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox who reflected on the "difficulties in our country right now."
"We're fortunate to live in the most generous state of the nation. We lead the nation in charitable giving. We lead the nation in volunteerism and that's helping offset those and yet we know it's still not enough and that's why there is a need for this building," said Cox. "At the end of the day, that building is still just concrete and steel. What happens in that building is sacred, as people give up their substance voluntarily and people give up their time."
For those who have forgotten what it is like to struggle, Cox recalled being a young father with two children, calculating prices at the grocery store.
"I hope we don't forget and I hope you'll remember that there are still lots and lots of people that are experiencing that right now. This is an opportunity for us to help them," said Cox.
