September marks Hunger Action Month, a time to talk openly about food insecurity and the work happening right here in Utah to make sure no family goes without a meal. While Utah often ranks well in economic indicators, the reality is that approximately 8.2% of Utah households—roughly 1 in 12 families—experience food insecurity at some point during the year. And for kids? The numbers hit even harder, with about 1 in 10 Utah children facing uncertain access to nutritious meals.
Food insecurity isn't always empty cupboards or skipped meals. It's the family choosing between groceries and rent, produce or cheap boxed meals. It's the parent watering down the milk to make it last longer. It's the stress that comes from not knowing where the next meal will come from, and that stress affects everything—physical and mental health, how well kids do in school, and a family's ability to get back on their feet financially. Rural Utah counties face this challenge at even higher rates, where distance and limited transportation can make getting help that much harder.
Food Banks vs Food Pantries: Why It Matters
You've heard both terms, but if you're facing food insecurity or want to help someone who is, understanding the difference between food banks and food pantries can help you know exactly where to go and what to expect. These aren't just different names for the same thing, they serve distinct but complementary roles in getting food to Utah families who need it.
Food Banks operate as the supply chain of hunger relief. Think of the Utah Food Bank, the massive warehouse operation that receives truckloads of donations, purchases food at wholesale prices, and redistributes it to hundreds of smaller organizations across the state. Food banks like Utah Food Bank don't typically hand groceries directly to families. Instead, they're the backbone that keeps food moving from donors and manufacturers to the organizations that do serve families directly.
Food Pantries are where families actually go to get groceries. These are the local organizations—sometimes in church basements, community centers, or Community Action Agency offices—where you can walk in and leave with bags of groceries. Food pantries rely on volunteers from the community, donations from local businesses, and food they receive from larger food banks. Some operate from the same location every week, while others use mobile units to reach people in areas where transportation is a barrier.
The system works because it combines efficiency with humanity. Food banks handle the logistics like the trucks, the warehouses, the bulk purchasing power. Food pantries provide the personal connection and meet people where they are, literally and figuratively.
How CAP Utah Agencies Are Meeting Families Where They Are
Utah's Community Action Partnership agencies understand that hunger doesn't follow a convenient schedule, and one-size-fits-all solutions don't work when you're talking about communities as different as Salt Lake City and Moab.
Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB) in Provo shows how one organization can fill multiple roles. CASFB operates food pantries in Provo, Springville, Oakley, Coalville, and Wasatch/Heber, ensuring families across Utah, Summit, and Wasatch counties have local access to groceries. But they also recognized that even these five locations might not reach everyone, so they operate mobile pantry services, literally bringing the food pantry to communities throughout their three-county service area. It's innovative thinking that meets families where they are, not where it's most convenient for the organization.
Down in Southern Utah, Five County Association of Governments recently partnered with the Utah Food Bank to create something truly innovative at the Hurricane Valley facility. The partnership transitioned food pantry operations to the Utah Food Bank, while establishing a center for families receiving food to access case management, utility/housing assistance, employment support, and other services that support families in need. The partnership reimagined a local Community Action Agency's role while utilizing partnerships that increased the quantity and quality for food available for families. It was a win-win for food access and the community. What makes this partnership so effective is that Utah Food Bank typically doesn't operate as a food pantry or offer wraparound services, while Five County doesn't usually have the food distribution capacity of a major food bank. Together, they created something neither could do alone—high-quality food access combined with comprehensive family support, all in one location.
Other Community Action Agencies are tackling food insecurity across the state through diverse approaches:
- Southeastern Regional Development Agency keeps families fed across Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties
- Open Doors serves Davis and Morgan counties
- Uintah Basin Association of Governments addresses food needs in eastern Utah
Several of our agencies also serve as Area Agencies on Aging, coordinating Meals on Wheels programs and senior meal sites that ensure older adults have access to nutritious meals and social connection. Other agencies operate Head Start programs where children receive healthy meals and snacks as part of comprehensive early childhood education, knowing that proper nutrition is the foundation for learning and development.
Each agency adapts their approach because they understand their communities.
It's Not Just About the Groceries
Here's what sets Community Action Agencies apart: we know that hunger doesn't happen in a vacuum. When a family comes to one of our agencies for food help, we're not just handing them a bag of groceries and sending them on their way. We're looking at the whole picture.
Many of our agencies help families apply for SNAP benefits (food stamps) because that monthly support can be the difference between choosing groceries or rent. Our staff know the application inside and out, help with renewals when benefits are about to expire, and can connect families to other programs like WIC for pregnant women and young children, or free and reduced-price school meals.
Community Action Agencies also offer programs that support clients with nutritious meals, such as Head Start Programs, Meals on Wheels, Senior Citizen Centers, and Circles programs.
Some agencies offer nutrition education like practical workshops on stretching a food budget, meal planning when money is tight, and cooking nutritious meals with shelf-stable ingredients. We've seen families start community gardens, learn food preservation, and develop skills that help them long after they no longer need emergency food assistance.
We use food assistance as an entry point to address what's causing the food insecurity in the first place. The family coming in for groceries might also need help finding a job that pays living wages, assistance with rent, or support accessing healthcare.
When someone doesn't have to choose between heating their home and buying groceries, when they can get reliable childcare so they can work, when they have stable housing—that's when families can focus on building the life they want instead of just surviving day to day.
When Your Local Agency Doesn't Have a Food Pantry
Not every Community Action Agency operates a food pantry, and that's okay. If you're facing food insecurity and your local CAA doesn't have a pantry, call them anyway.
Community Action Agencies maintain what we call a "no wrong door" approach. If we can't help you directly with food, we know who can, and we'll help you get connected. We know which local churches run pantries, which days the mobile food pantry comes through your area, and how to navigate the application process for various programs. More importantly, we can help you figure out transportation if that's a barrier, or advocate for you if you're running into problems accessing services.
What You Can Do This Hunger Action Month
Hunger Action Month is about rolling up your sleeves and doing something concrete to help your neighbors.
Volunteer your time: Food pantries need people to sort donations, pack food boxes, help families shop, and sometimes just be a friendly face during what can be a stressful experience.
Give strategically: Cash donations often help more than food donations. Food banks and pantries can stretch your dollar much further than you can at the grocery store because they have access to wholesale prices and bulk purchasing. Still donate food where you can, but know that your monetary donation is also powerful.
Speak up: Talk to your elected representatives about policies that support food access. Share information about food assistance programs on social media to help reduce the stigma that keeps some families from asking for help.
Think long-term: Many Community Action Agencies operate community gardens or partner with local farms to create sustainable food systems. Supporting these initiatives helps create lasting food security in your community, not just temporary relief.
Food insecurity affects all of us because we're all part of the same community. When families have reliable access to nutritious food, kids do better in school, adults are healthier and more productive, and our entire community benefits. This Hunger Action Month, let's commit to building a food system that works for everyone, one that treats people with dignity and addresses the root causes that create food insecurity in the first place.
Because no one should have to choose between rent and groceries, and in a state as prosperous as Utah.
To learn more about food assistance programs or find your local Community Action Agency, visit CAPUtah.org or call 2-1-1. You can also find a more comprehensive list of food resources by visiting Utahns Against Hunger’s website Utahns Against Hunger - Get Help
