WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH — Thousands of Utahns struggling during the pandemic lined up for food donated by the Utah Food Bank.
Friday marked the largest mobile distribution the non-profit has ever hosted.
Two thousand cars started gathering before the sun came up, filling the Maverik Center’s parking lot and clogging the side streets.
“For us, it is kind of a gamble. But we are here we are set up and will give away product until it is gone,” Utah Food Bank Executive Director Ginette Bott said.
Ten semi-trucks were brought in full of meat, milk, and fruit.
This family of six is thankful for hamburger.
“We couldn’t afford it so we are really happy that we got a lot of the food. We are blessed to have it,” Lesly Munoz said.
With soaring unemployment, the food bank says demand is three times higher this month than in March.
“It’s going to help a lot. They cut down my husband’s hours at work,” Stacy Thompson said.
“Many of these people coming through a few weeks ago were gainfully employed, had never had to ask for product before. This is the first time for them,” Bott said.
The food was provided by federal agencies and local grocery stores. Up until Friday, the largest mobile distribution helped 900 people. Bott expected well over 2,000.
“Not one family is alone and struggling through this. We are all in this together,” Thompson said.
The food bank plans to hold several more of these mobile distributions across the state.
Click here for a link to the Utah Food Bank calendar.
