$5000 Donation Helps Fund Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry Expansion
Salt Lake City, UT
Cutline: Ben Wiseman, senior vice president of member serviceMountain West Region for Security Service Federal Credit Union presents a $5,000 donation to employees of Tabithas Way.
SECURITY SERVICE HELPS FUND TABITHAS WAY
FOOD PANTRY EXPANSION THROUGH $5,000 DONATION
Donation to provide materials for food storage
The Security Service Charitable Foundation has donated $5,000 to Tabithas Way, a local food pantry in Utah County which serves an average of 3,000 people each month. This donation will go specifically towards collapsible wire storage containers for the North County pantry, which is moving into a larger space to provide better processes and efficiencies.
Committed to serving and empowering people experiencing hunger, Tabithas Way provides free food and essential life-sustaining supplies to families and individuals struggling with food insecurity. Tabithas Way redistributes an average of over 80,000 lbs. of food per month with 85% of food coming from food drives and grocery rescue.
The North County pantry is at 100% capacity and cannot help everyone in need at its current size, explained Wendy Osborne, Executive Director, Tabithas Way. In order to increase capacity, the pantry is expanding the size of its current facility. These collapsible wire containers are necessary to store the food before distribution.
INSIDE
Our Vision Of Establishing No Hunger Zones
Tabithas Way has been successfully operating for over eight years, providing food assistance and strengthening our communities by fighting the adverse effects of hunger and food insecurity. As Utah County continues to see unprecedented growth, we continue to distribute food to more families and individuals each year.
Tabithas Way is taking an innovative approach to providing food assistance by encouraging local communities to take ownership of the problem of hunger by creating “No Hunger Zones.” A “No Hunger Zone” exists when a community, as a whole, takes emotional and financial responsibility to proactively resolve food insecurity for a minimum of 3 consecutive years.
Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry hopes to share this vision and intellectual proprietary information with our colleagues and other communities to help spread the No Hunger Zone concept.
A Special Thank You To Brenda Ewart
Some 26 years ago, as her youngest of three children headed into Grade 1, Richmond Hills Brenda Ewart took a part-time job as manager of the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank.
Our family attended Richmond Hill United Church where the food bank was located at the time, and the minister suggested I apply for the job, explained Ewart, stating one attraction was she could be home before her children returned from school.
But what started as a job, has become a passion and has consumed far more hours each week than originally forecast, and has pulled in her husband, Bob, as well. Although she has been paid, both have donated many volunteer hours over the years to what has become a labour of love for both.
Bob had his eyes opened and so did the kids to the need for the food bank, explained Ewart. And the volunteers have become my friends, my family. Some have volunteered longer than Ive been here! Read more.
Also Check: Northern Indiana Mobile Food Bank Schedule
Tabithas Way Food Security Box
$ 10.95
If youve struggled just to find certain household items during this time, consider the plight of those who simply cant afford them, regardless of their availability. Food insecurity was already a serious issue for many in our community even prior to the pandemic. And its only been made significantly worse by this crisis. In an effort to assist those without means to reliably feed their families, we invite you to add one Tabithas Way Food Security Boxes to your pantry order.
Your $11 donation pays for 36 ounces of rice, 15 ounces of beans, and 12 ounces of tuna for the Utah County Tabithas Way Food Pantry, which is working to help families and individuals through tough times by providing temporary food assistance. You can read more about their organization here:
Additionally, Culinary Crafts is matching each contribution doubling the total food purchased by our supporters each week. Thank you for your support.
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Who Receives Food Assistance
Hungry people come from all walks of life most are our neighbors who have fallen on tough times and need temporary food assistance. National studies show that 63% of people in the US have zero savings. An additional 13% have less than $1000 in savings. When disaster strikes, such as a job loss, medical bills, a car accident, divorce, disability, the death of a spouse, etc., these people often have to choose between housing, medical care, paying for utilities, or purchasing food. According to Feeding America an estimated 100,000 individuals in Utah County are facing food insecurity 1 in 5 children are hungry and lack proper nutrition.
Food insecurity in adults reduces physical and mental health well-being along with economic productivity. Chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, anxiety and depression have been linked to adult hunger.
The largest population that our pantry serves is children – on average about 50%. The impact of hunger upon children is severe. Hunger delays development, affecting children on cognitive, social and emotional levels. This includes reading, attention, memory and problem-solving skills. Children who are hungry are more likely to perform poorly academically and fall behind their peers. Once behind in school, other risk factors increase exponentially. These risks include dropping out of school, criminal behaviors, substance abuse, early teen pregnancy, and suicide.
Recommended Reading: Food Bank Port St Lucie
Tabitha’s Way Profile And History
Wendy started her pantry in a small location on the backside of the business complex next to Stone Drug in Spanish Fork. Then in 2012, Tabitha’s Way moved into a larger space on Main Street in Spanish Fork to accommodate the growing needs of the community. In 2016, Tabitha’s Way was able to purchase and renovate a building located at 45 East 100 North in Spanish Fork, which became our new permanen t home in March 2018. Today our Spanish Fork location provides food assistance to the food insecure in a service area of Springville to Santaquin. After meeting with the Utah Food Bank and hearing that there was not a food pantry in North Utah County, Michael Carter and Al Switzler co-founded Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry in American Fork, Utah, in July 2016. Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry, located at 920 East State Road in American Fork, provides food assistance to the food insecure in a service area of Lindon to Cedar Fort. Who Is Tabitha?
Amid Increased Need And Dwindling Supplies Tabithas Way Holds Food Drive On Saturday
AMERICAN FORK, Utah Tabithas Way food pantry says donations are down at the same time that demand for food assistance has gone up.
Were totally out of rice and beans, said Mike Criddle, a service missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Criddle has volunteered at the food pantry for four months.
The biggest thing that Ive noticed is, when we first started, there was a lot of food, and weve seen the food supplies dwindling and dwindling, he said.
Criddle said the shelves are getting empty in certain areas, like dry goods and boxed meals.
With inflation, with all the stuff thats happening economically, the demand has gone up, Criddle said.
Tabithas Way is seeing a surge in new families stopping by for assistance.
It means a lot, said Tyler Glade, who received food for the first time on Friday. Its really helpful for our family.
In July, Tabithas Way served 156 new families for a total of 1,107 families. Normally theyve seen about 65 new families a month so far this year.
Everythings more expensive now, Glade said. Gas, food. Weve got a kid on the way.
The pantry said that summertime is already a slow time for food donations and that its coinciding with increased demand this year.
Were at an all-time low right now on our meals and foods like that, said Kara Smith, the pantrys outreach coordinator.
Smith said they are serving about 1,200 children every month and that families are struggling.
Also Check: San Diego Food Bank Login
Pantry Details Hours Photos Information: Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry
Full service client choice food pantry for anyone in need. Fresh food, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, etc. Volunteers are welcome.Hours:1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 10:00am – 12:00pmNew clients bring ID for each family member and proof of address. Se habla espaol.For more information, please call.
Volunteering Information:
County or Counties Served: Utah
User Questions And Answers
Answer a question below ONLY IF you know the answerHow do I volunteer?Do you know if I can get food delivered to me?Do I need to make an appointment?How do I make a donation?Can I do my community service hours at this location?What type of documentation do I need to apply for food?
I’ve been assisted by you for 3 months, thank you very much.
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Food For Thought: Tabithas Way Asks For Help Following Collection Protocols
A donation bin for Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry is pictured on Wednesday April 7, 2021. Dumping unwanted items forces charities to spend money to dispose of the products — money that it would rather use to help those in need.
A donation bin for Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry is pictured recently in Utah County.
Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry has been serving Utah County for almost 11 years and while donations are readily accepted to help fight hunger and food insecurity in the county, dumping at one of the many donation bins is actually costing the food pantry money.
Al Switzler, the co-founder of the Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry in American Fork, brought up an instance where Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotel chain, accepted a national award and asked people to put the shower curtain inside of the bathtub when showering at a Hilton hotel.
Switzler added that the issue with the dumping is not as bad, but it is costing the food pantry money to clean up the things being left at the donation bins.
When the first Tabithas Way was started in Spanish Fork, there was a thrift store that would sell items to help fund the food pantry and feed those who needed it.
Part of that work to raise money for the food pantry was some work with a company in Delaware, which distributed the bins across the county that are technically not a formal part of Tabithas Way.
More Americans Are Going Hungry And It Costs More To Feed Them
The director of the nations largest network of food banks is seeing support dwindle as need rises: Youre in the middle of a battle, and people are leaving the field.
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By Lora Kelley and Nicholas Kulish
The first time Kelly Wilcox drove her 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan to the food pantry near her home in Payson, Utah, she noticed one thing right away that surprised her: newer models of Toyota and Honda sedans and minivans. I saw a bunch of other people with cars like mine, who had kids in cars, she said.
The mother of four young sons hadnt known what to expect when she made that initial trip to Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry this spring. She did know she needed help. Her husband had lost his job. He soon found a new job as an account manager, but with inflation it hasnt been enough. We still cannot keep up with the bills, said Ms. Wilcox, 35. To keep her children fed this summer, she has visited the pantry regularly and said that barring a change, like a drop in food prices or a raise for her husband, it will be necessary for the foreseeable future.
Food banks are trying to meet these needs while coping with decreasing donations and, in some cases, increased awareness among people who need help that food banks are an option.
Read Also: Food Banks In Alamance County
Who Is Tabitha
Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry was founded in Spanish Fork, Utah, by Wendy & Jody Osborne in June of 2010 and was inspired from a biblical scripture found in the book of Acts 9:36-41. The scripture depicts the story of a woman named Tabitha, who provided food and clothing to the poor and needy. At her death, many mourned for Tabitha because of the charity she offered so many in her community. The Apostle Peter was moved by the affection of those mourning her. Peter then prayed over Tabitha and she was raised from the dead. Pictures depicting this story can be found at each of our pantry locations. “Tabitha’s Way” is a metaphor reminding us all to serve our community with love, just as Tabitha served hers.
How We Work
The Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is a non-government, independently run non-profit agency, founded to provide temporary emergency food assistance to those in need. Our strength is the generous support of the people of Richmond Hill, Thornhill and Maple, corporate supporters, food drives by churches and schools, and our staff of amazing volunteers. The food bank has a strong history in the community and became a charitable organization in 1991. It is overseen by a volunteer board of directors and has one paid, part-time manager, Lee Reynolds.
When in season, we receive fresh produce through a variety of sources: farmers markets, Seeds For Change , local gardeners and through Feed Ontario and From Earth to Table.
Financial contributions are used by the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank to provide the best services and deliver help to the people we assist.
Recommended Reading: Second Harvest Food Bank Donation