TOOELE — As millions of Americans celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, here in Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is marking the milestone with acts of service.
A special delivery rolled into Tooele Thursday morning. A semitruck unloaded 25 pallets of food that will be distributed to the local food pantry, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ.
As part of the America 250 Initiative, 250 trucks will make deliveries to food banks in all 50 states. Per a press release, each truck carries roughly 20 tons of shelf-stable food produced largely by church operations and funded through member donations. The full initiative represents an estimated 10 million pounds of food donated nationwide.
For Carol Hollowell, the CEO of Switchpoint, who oversees food pantries and emergency shelters across the state, it's a testament to those willing to help their neighbors in need.
"In these last six years, the empathy that we have seen from our volunteers, that is what Tooele has been about, is serving your neighbors," Hollowell said.
Faith leaders like Pastor Mark Runyon with New Life Community Fellowship said the mission is to help those who may have fallen through the cracks and feel forgotten.
"Today, we're able to feed about 2,000 people a month that come through the church and get help," Runyon said. "We're helping hundreds of people with clothing every single month, and it's just a blessing."
With volunteers from Just Serve and other nonprofit organizations, along with city leaders, the hope is others will step up and give back.
"It's really about linking arms and joining together to do good. To see the good and be the good," Brent Beezer, director of the Tooele Valley Communication Council, said.
