Moab residents can help their neighbors in need by participating in a food drive on Saturday, March 20. The drive will benefit the Utah Food Bank, which sponsors the Grand County Food Bank and the food pantry at St. Francis Episcopal Church. Combined, the two help over 200 local families have access to safe and healthy meals each year.
The Moab Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting this month’s drive as part of the Utah Food Bank’s statewide Feed Utah campaign. The campaign is planning similar events across the state on March 20, aiming to provide food to the estimated 511,000 Utahns who are facing hunger this year.
According to the Utah Food Bank, this year many people are turning to food banks for the first time due to economic fallout resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
All community members are invited to participate in the drive, which will be held in the parking lot of the LDS stake center at 701 E. Locust Lane, Moab, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The most needed foods at local pantries include protein-rich items like canned tuna and chicken, chili with meat, canned stews macaroni and cheese and other boxed meals, peanut butter and oatmeal. according to Drake Taylor, director of the county food bank, and Yvonne Bliss, director of the St. Francis pantry. Other items that are much needed by families but are often not donated include laundry detergent, liquid dish detergent and personal hygiene items such as hand soap, shampoo, deodorant, diapers sizes 5 and 6, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
All donations will be immediately distributed to the local banks.
“Please respond generously,” the Moab Stake urged in a press release. “All donations will be greatly appreciated by both food banks and the recipients.”
The Feed Utah food drive will take place on Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center (701 E. Locust Lane, Moab). For more information or to donate cash online, go to www.utahfoodbank.org
