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Emergency food pantries and food banks are operated by a variety of entities including Community Action Agencies, churches, county governments and non-profit organizations.
Visit, our partner agency, Utahns Against Hunger for a wealth of information on food assistance programs and data on hunger in Utah.
While the vast majority of food for these organizations is donated directly by the public, they also receive support through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) as well as state and federal grants. The USDA makes available commodities to food banks that in turn deliver these foods to emergency food pantries and prepared meals sites. Eight of the Community Action Agencies provide emergency food assistance and/or have food pantries. To find a list of regional food banks and emergency food pantries, visit Food Banks of Utah or the Utah Food Bank.
EMERGENCY FOOD
Food insecurity occurs when an individual or household has difficulty obtaining food due to a lack of resources, and it's a problem that affects many of Utah's households. Although food insecurity doesn't necessarily equate to hunger, it is an indicator of a serious risk of hunger. With rising grocery prices and high job loss, many families are in need of Emergency Food Assistance.
FOOD STAMPS
The Food Stamp Program is the foundation of the federal government's response to hunger. This program provides cash (in the form of a debit card) to low-income households to purchase food. Food Stamp benefits can only be used to purchase non-prepared foods and recipients cannot purchase non-food items such as toiletries or diapers. In an effort to increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables available to participants in the Food Stamp Program, Utah now allows for the use of Food Stamps at some local Farmer's Markets. The Utah Food Stamp Program is administered by the Department of Workforce Services. Click here to use Utahns Against Hunger's Food Stamp Calculator.
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS
School-based nutrition programs include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). All are federally assisted meal programs available to public schools, non-profit private schools, and childcare providers. Participation in the programs is voluntary. Participating organizations must provide meals that meet nutritional guidelines set by the USDA. In order to qualify for free meals through the NSLP and SBP, households must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, while reduced-price meals are available for households whose incomes fall between 130% and 185% of the poverty level. Children 18 and younger may receive free meals and snacks through SFSP. Meals and snacks are also available to persons with disabilities over age 18 who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. Child Nutrition Programs are administered by the Utah State Office of Education.
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM (WIC)
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known more commonly as WIC, was started in 1974. WIC provides low-income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant or nursing women, infants and children up to the age of five with highly nutritious foods such as infant formula, high protein items like beans, legumes and peanut butter, and 100% fruit juice. Recent changes allow recipients to also purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Nutrition education is mandatory to receive WIC benefits. WIC improves access to health care, improves pregnancy outcomes for low-income women, and improves the nutritional intake of program participants. The WIC program in Utah is administered by the Utah Department of Health.
OTHER PROGRAMS
There are numerous other federally funded nutrition programs that serve much smaller populations. The Elderly Nutrition Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The programs administered under this funding include:
Senior Congregate Meals: Meals are served and made available to all seniors regardless of income. These meals are served in a group setting, like churches, senior centers and other community settings. Meals are provided at no cost to seniors, though many ask for a voluntary donation to cover the cost. For more information, visit Meal Call.
Home-Delivered Meals: These are meals delivered to homebound seniors who are in need because of health status and lack of resources to prepare meals on their own. For more information, visit the Utah Food Bank or Meal Call.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): CACFP is a program through which day care centers, non-residential adult day care, emergency shelters and afterschool programs provide meals and snacks to participants. CACFP is administered by the Utah State Office of Education.
Food insecurity occurs when an individual or household has difficulty obtaining food due to a lack of resources, and it's a problem that affects many of Utah's households.
