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SALT LAKE CITY -- A new collaboration has sprung up to address one of Utah's most pressing needs: hunger. The state's main food distribution center, the Utah Food Bank, is getting some much needed assistance over the airwaves.
This is Hunger Action Month, and many of us received in our morning paper a food donation bag. Meantime, the traditional food drive is joining forces with the public radio pledge drive in hopes of meeting a growing need.
General Manager of KUER John Greene said, "We're very conscious that this is an extraordinary need. I'm conscious of don't want to glum us on to another program for sympathy, but everyone recognizes this is a time of extraordinary need."
The Food Bank's new warehouse on 910 W. 3150 South, at 86,000-square feet, is twice the size of the old one, driven by rising demand.
Janeal Ford, development director for the Utah Food Bank explained, "We've seen quite a spike in the need in the last year, obviously due to the economic situation we're in."
Demand for food is up 40 percent this year. Over the past decade, the amount of food given out has more than doubled to 23 million pounds. With the new warehouse, the agency will be able to distribute 40 million pounds of food.
Donations have gone up this year, but nowhere near that 40 percent rise in demand.
Greene said, "People that donate online have an opportunity to write us a note, lots of people are saying thank you for doing this. This is great."
Tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the first-ever Hunger Action Month food drive, a single-day event. Donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank, your local food pantry or any Smith's location.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
