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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Officials at the Utah Food Bank expect donations will be close to last year's totals but say the holiday food drive is falling well short of their goals.
The bank has collected 1.1 million pounds of food so far this holiday season, said spokeswoman Amberlie Phillips.
The drive officially closes Jan. 15 and Phillips estimates the final amount donated will be just under 1.3 million pounds -- well short of the food bank's 2 million pound goal.
In 2005, Utahns gave 1.4 million pounds of nonperishable food to the bank, which serves a number of agencies throughout the state.
Though overall contributions are down, Phillips said turkey donations were strong this year, ensuring those in need will have a complete Christmas dinner.
"We had an amazing community response," she said. "We were able to meet the needs of all of our agencies."
On Wednesday, skiers and snowboarders donated close to 18,000 pounds of food -- almost an entire semitrailer full -- in exchange for $12 day passes at Brighton Ski Resort.
Overall, charitable donations this year appeared to be steady. The United Way of Salt Lake's Sub for Santa program served 5,342 children this year, almost 2,000 more than last year, thanks to a surge in donations early last week.
Contributions to the Salvation Army's red kettle program, however, are about 15 percent below last year's figures, according to the organization. The bell ringers are gone, but people can still donate online at www.onlineredkettle.org.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
