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With the nation's strongest economy and a surplus of jobs, it would be easy to believe that Utah doesn't need to be concerned about children going without food.
Sadly, No Kid Hungry Utah reports that as many as 16% of Beehive state children live in homes classified as "food insecure." That means those households don't have enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life.
Food insecurity is typically a symptom of financial insecurity, explains Heidi LeBlanc, director of the USU Hunger Solutions Institute in an article for the Utah Food Security Council. "Food is often one of the only variable expenses for households on a tight budget, as opposed to car payments, rent, etc., which means it is frequently the first expense to be cut," she is quoted as saying.
The good news is that there are a number of existing programs to combat child hunger within the state. Even so, there are still many children who fall through the cracks.
The need is genuine
For example, a teacher at Lone Peak High School with a class of refugee students discovered that many of them were missing breakfast and lunch almost every day. With the help of the school administration, they set up a small food pantry in a classroom to make sure there were food options available any time those students needed them.
Many families who qualify for meal programs don't know how to complete the necessary steps. Others might be embarrassed to ask for assistance. Some children live in households where addiction makes food a low priority. Whatever the reason and no matter where you live in Utah, chances are children nearby fall into that food insecure category.
Children who receive food assistance through school lunch and breakfast programs face challenges on weekends and school holidays.
As the Utah Food Bank explains, "For Utah children who depend on school lunches, spring break presents a time of greater food insecurity. When children lose access to school meal programs during spring break, families must find a way to provide additional meals on already-tight budgets. Ten days is a long time to go without typically scheduled meals, especially for the most vulnerable, chronically hungry students who may have little to nothing to eat at home."
How groups, individuals and families can help
From volunteering at facilities to delivering or decorating food boxes, there are many ways people can help and there are multiple organizations that welcome assistance.
Utah Food Bank: Go here to find information about assisting. In addition to volunteering time and collecting food, anyone can contribute monetary donations. The Food Bank reports that every $1 donated becomes more than $9 worth of goods and services thanks to organizations and individuals that provide matching.
The USANA Kids Eat program provides backpacks filled with select non-perishable, easily prepared foods to ensure kids get enough to eat when they can't depend on school meals. The group needs volunteers to donate food, to fill backpacks and host backpack collection and filling events.
Community Action Services and Food Bank is a nonprofit organization in Provo that helps the impoverished by offering resources to help stabilize a person's crisis and then help them rebuild their life. They accept volunteers to help whether it is an individual one-time walk-up or something on a more regular basis.
Utahns Against Hunger is a state-wide anti-hunger non-profit organization working on public policy and advocacy for federal nutrition programs. The group seeks volunteers that commit to a specified amount of time each month. Instead of distributing food directly in low-income neighborhoods, the group works to increase and secure funding for other agencies on the state level.
No Kid Hungry is a national campaign run by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States (including Utah) and globally.
Community groups step up
Local food pantries often step up to help fill the needs of children who might fall through gaps. As an example, the Bountiful Food Pantry reports that it provides 3,400 packs of food each week to children in need throughout Davis County.
Others that provide similar assistance include:
In addition, some schools and districts have their own food pantries and food programs.
Your help is needed
In spite of the many groups and organizations who are helping, the demand is always there. If you are part of a group or business that would like to help, or if you would like to volunteer as a family or individual, please reach out to one of the groups on this list. You can also contact your local school district to find out how to help in your neighborhood.
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The firm is committed to keeping Utah families and communities safe by ensuring wrongdoers are held accountable. While a lawsuit isn't always the answer when it is needed having someone on your side can mean the difference between declaring bankruptcy and rebuilding your life and moving forward, especially when you're up against an insurance company or a hospital.
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