utahns against hunger

Utah's food banks have seen an increase in help from the community as the pandemic has created more people in need of basic necessities.

Joey is 8 years old. He comes from a low-income household. His family uses food stamps to supplement their food budget, but Joey still doesn't get enough to eat. He doesn't make it to school in time to eat breakfast, and the only adequate, nutritional meal he gets during the day is his school lunch. Joey is often sick. He misses several days of school throughout the year and falls behind. His test scores are far below the national average. During the summer, Joey is hungry because he doesn't have access to school meals. Joey coasts by in school, until high school, when he drops out to get a job and support his family. He earns minimum wage and his own family is food insecure. The cycle continues.

Students at a local elementary school participate in the Utah Breakfast Expansion team's Breakfast in the Classroom program. Marti Woolford, the child nutrition advocate for Utahns Against Hunger, said these programs make a big difference for students. (Utahns Against Hunger)

Food Pantry at Community Action Services in Provo. (Hailey Stevens)