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Jed Boal ReportingAs we begin this holiday season we all have more hungry neighbors than ever before and at the Utah Food Bank the drive for turkeys is intensifying.
This time of year a steady stream of food donations flows onto the dock. The Utah Food Bank distributes tons of turkeys, collects truckloads of cans, and piles up plenty of pies. The goal is 24-thousand turkeys and two million pounds of food. Folks from Eyewitness News helped unload turkeys.
From community generosity the Food Bank helps families across the state.
Jim Pugh, Utah Food Bank,Executive Director: "We want to make sure that it's easy for people in the state to access us. We have emergency food pantries and regional food banks across the extire state that we work with to make sure those needs are met."
From Logan to St. George, Tremonton to Moab. Statewide more than 115-thousand familes made requests for help with their food this holiday season.
Jim Pugh, Utah Food Bank,Executive Director: "Unfortunately, demand continues to grow. Our population is growing. We're seeing more and more people living paycheck to paycheck. They're one emergency away from having to rely on places like the food bank to get by."
24-thousand turkeys is a lofty goal, and in order to meet it, the food bank needs to bring in one thousand turkeys a day for the next three weeks.
Jim Pugh, Utah Food Bank,Executive Director: "Whether it's dropping off a bag of food, coming down here and sorting food, or making a financial contribution, this community's been great to step up to the challenge."
If you can't make it to the food bank, you can drop off food at any Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Smith's, Jiffy Lube, Riverton Motors or Wells Fargo.
Jim Pugh, Utah Food Bank,Executive Director: "We'd encourage people if they can't drop it off, go online. We've got a spot on our website where you can click on to make a turkey donation. We want to make it easy for people to get involved and make a difference."
Until 9:00 tonight Regence BlueCross BlueShield will match every turkey brought in. So if you planned to come by soon, it might be a good evening.
You can bring your donation to the Utah Food Bank, located at 1025 South 700 West. Go to the south side of the building.
You can also donate a turkey or a bag of food through Smith's "Gift of Giving" Program. Click Here for more.
