As the federal government shutdown continued and SNAP benefits for Utah families were delayed, volunteers from the USANA Foundation teamed with several local organizations on Nov. 5 to assemble food bags for families at its West Valley City headquarters.

“The termination of SNAP benefits has created a critical need within many communities,” said Michelle Benedict, the Global Programs director for the Foundation. “Today’s effort brings together hunger-relief organizations to directly support local school districts and ensure families have access to foods and essential nutrition.”

For three hours, scores of volunteers helped fill backpacks with many nonperishable food items. The assembly-line design at the Foundation allowed for almost 3,000 bags to be filled with food purchased by the USANA Foundation, which worked with Smith’s for the grocery items. It receives no food donations and covers all the costs on its own. Participating programs at this packing project included the Bountiful Food Pantry, For the Kids, Utah’s Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, and Kristen Andrus’ Gathering for Impact. 

“The USANA Foundation focuses on feeding hungry kids all year long, and what they’re doing today will absolutely help so many families,” said Rebekah Anderson, executive director of the Bountiful Food Pantry. “They are generously giving us 500 of these backpacks which we’ll get to schools in Davis County, and the other packs will go to schools in Salt Lake and Utah counties. They will take them to the schools tomorrow to help families in need this weekend.”

Anderson said that since the announcement of the delay of SNAP benefits, “our phones have been ringing off the hooks from people needing help or wanting to help. I think if this need continued and we weren’t receiving outside help and donations, we could be out of food within two weeks. We’ve seen about a 25% increase in calls from those in need.”

But she said donors have stepped up, with food and monetary donations coming in. The Pantry’s Pallet Program, where donors can pledge money toward purchase of pallets of food, has been a great help.

“People continue to offer support,” she said. “I had a gentleman today who came to the pantry and gave us half a trailer-load of food. Totally unexpected. Davis County is great. I’ve had people bring in donations who had never heard of us before, or never visited the pantry. It’s been great to see the generosity of people in times of need.”

Benedict said packing projects like this one are common for the USANA Foundation, which has a large warehouse area that can host packing events. 

“We probably do at least 14 or 15 of these a month,” she said. “And we have a long waiting list of people who want to come in and volunteer to assemble these packs. We’re so grateful to our volunteers, our company staff members and of course our relationship with Smith’s for helping us make this happen.”