Utah Food Bank’s Post

This ain't just about filling up an empty belly. When you bring food into a community, you bring hope, you bring connection, you bring a sense of care that goes beyond the plate. It's a statement that says, "I see you, and I know the struggle ain't easy, but you ain't alone." Food is the fuel that keeps the fight goin’. It’s the energy that builds our spirits, our families, and our movements. When you help put food on the table, you're not just fighting hunger; you're fighting that emptiness inside. This is about dignity, about standing up and sayin', "We won't let our brothers and sisters go hungry in the shadows of abundance." It's about restoring faith in community, reminding folks that we're in this together. Produce is a bridge, it connects us back to the roots, to the land, to each other. Every bite is a reminder that we survive, we thrive, and we rise. We ain't just feeding people, we're feeding souls. We're keeping the spirit alive, the spirit that knows the power of togetherness, the power of love, and the power of revolution in every act of kindness. So, when we support each other like this, when we feed our people, we're planting seeds for a better tomorrow. Ase! It’s wild out here when even a simple mayo sandwich has turned into a luxury. We used to talk about struggle meals, but now they’re pricing folks out of even that. Food is expensive these days, too expensive for too many. A jar of mayo that used to be a few bucks is now over five dollars at FoodMaxx. This ain't just about rising prices; it’s about squeezing folks who are already stretched thin, making it harder to feed families, harder to survive. When the basics become out of reach, that’s a warning sign, a flashing red light that says something’s broken in the system. And it's the people, the community, that end up bearing the weight of that burden. Feeding the community is more critical now than ever. Every dollar spent on food is a choice between survival and sacrifice, and that’s a choice no one should have to make. Next Give away will be the last week of October 2024 .updates coming soon. Ase!

This morning, I received an email with the subject line "Skyrocketing Tuna". I immediately imagined it written in Indiana Jones font, advertising the lamest adventure movie ever. Once I stopped giggling, I was able to review a very serious report from our supply chain team. Simply put, a can of tuna fish - a staple of my childhood and Crosslines food pantry - has increased in price 70% this year. Seventy percent. In the last five months, we've seen 49% more families at Crosslines than we did in the same time last year. Last year was up 20% from the year before. Even after streamlining our services and consolidating under one roof (a measure which cut our utilities in HALF) this rapidly increasing demand for services is quickly outpacing our available resources. Inflation is hitting food prices hard. And it's hitting Crosslines too. We are stretched. Thin. Some simple math for you: A flat budget + 49% increase in demand + 70% price increase = Tuna is something we may no longer be able to provide the hundreds of families who visit us each week. What is it worth to you to feed a hungry child? Is it worth the price of a can of tuna? What if it was your child who was hungry? Will you help us, help them? For about the price of a cheeseburger meal, you can provide a family of four groceries for a week. I hope you join me in combatting hunger right here in SW Missouri. Your gift can change lives! ccozarks.org/donate

There are very few things that we can agree on as a society. But one of them is that children should never go hungry. In Kentucky, 1 out of every 6 children lacks consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. Of the households served by Kentucky's food banks with school-aged children, nearly all (94 percent) receive free or reduced-price school lunch through the National School Lunch Program. Sadly, only 1 in 5 Kentucky children who eat free or reduced price lunch during the school year have access to such meals during the summer months when school is out. The Legal Food Frenzy helps our food banks fill the gap in access to food during these critical summer months, to ensure that no child goes hungry. You can help feed the kids! Each dollar you contribute will purchase roughly the equivalent of 4 pounds of food. If you are moved to join in the fight against hunger (and God bless you if you are), you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/eNiEPGHj

Check out one of our latest blogs highlighting the youth of Leonia and what they are doing to help the community around food insecurities! #rescuingfood#reducingwaste #relievinghunger #tabletotable

Costs are rising rising. Mobile Meals of Toledo has experienced a 25% increase in food costs,transportation, and, labor. Even with that we haven’t passed cost on. What does that mean? Do the math we are eating into our reserves. Also government, contract funding, and insurers increases support has only gone up from 0% to 6% in 3 years. Help us find a sustainable path forward

Eat a hero. Be a hero.

🕊️ As we journey through Lent, a season of reflection and renewal, let's draw upon our faith to shine a light on the darkness of human trafficking. This period calls us to reflect not just on personal growth but on how we can serve others, especially the most vulnerable among us. 💡 Scripture inspires us to 'act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God' (Micah 6:8). These words remind us of our duty to fight against injustice, including the scourge of trafficking that affects our communities both near and far. 🌿 Lent is a time to consider what we can give up, but also what we can give back. Let this season motivate us to give our time, effort, and resources towards ending trafficking. Whether through volunteering, educating ourselves and others, or supporting survivor services, each action we take plants seeds of hope and change. 🤝 Our faith teaches us the power of collective action guided by compassion and justice. As a community, we can be a beacon of hope for those caught in the grip of trafficking. Together, we can build a world where freedom and dignity are upheld for everyone. 🙏 Let us pray for the strength to stand against trafficking and for the healing and liberation of all who are affected. May our actions reflect our faith, and may we be instruments of God’s peace and justice in the world. #LentenReflections #FaithInAction #HopeAgainstTrafficking

We know that hunger won’t end until everyone has enough money to buy healthy food. This means we need to work with communities facing hunger to ensure everyone has a grocery store near their homes, access to affordable childcare and reliable transportation to work and school. The growth in food shelf visits is not sustainable. Tackling the causes of hunger, together, is crucial to getting ahead of the problem. That’s why we’re bringing together farmers, neighbors, and nonprofits to make hunger history. #Make HungerHistory #FoodBank #EndHungerTogether

Take a look at our first blog post that takes a deep dive into the realities of food insecurity in rural West Michigan. Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of families and individuals who experience food insecurity. But, what does that look like? Food insecurity has many facets–making it challenging to paint a clear picture of what individuals experience because it rarely is an isolated issue. The complexity of the issue doesn’t mean we can’t discuss the realities of food insecurity that appear in rural West Michigan. This is just a reminder that food insecurity looks different for those who experience it. Learn more about food insecurity in rural West Michigan and how you can step in and make a difference by reading the article here: https://lnkd.in/gXnzM5Ub #TrueNorthServes #TogetherWeThrive #blog #Hunger #TrueNorthBlog #NonprofitBlog #IssueFocused #EmptyBowls