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Jed Boal Reporting Christmas is over and Utahns gave generously to charities again this year. But the drive is still on to meet some goals.
Most families will take down the tree this week, pack up the ornaments and focus on the year ahead. Utah charities are grateful for the gifts of the season. For some the drive never ends.
Sixty-six hundred pounds of food, two thousand dollars and still counting is the post-Christmas gift from the Memorial Mortuaries food drive for the Utah Food Bank.
Brandon Burningham, Memorial Mortuaries: "The response has been overwhelming. It's been a good experience for us."
The food bank truck made the pick-up today. Employees from the mortuary and its sister companies made it a success.
Brandon Burningham, Memorial Mortuaries: "They've all stepped up to the table and not only made sacrifices out of their own pantries and pockets, but also out of their own communities."
The Utah Food Bank holiday drive runs through January 15th and the charity should reach its goal of 1.5 million pounds of food. That is quite an accomplishment, but the food bank gets 15-hundred food requests statewide each week.
Brandon Burningham, Memorial Mortuaries: "There's a need year round as we've been seeing the coverage."
KSL's Quarters for Christmas had a big weekend with all kinds of donations pouring in. They're on pace to reach 150-thousand dollars which will provide five-thousand shoes for kids who really need them.
United Way's Sub for Santa program got a rally from the community. Early in the month donations were down. However, generous donations of toys, time and money helped answer the call for more than five thousand children. That's more kids than ever before so the needs continue to grow.
These charities said December was a good month, but most of them take care of growing needs throughout the year.
