On November 14, AFS partnered with the Utah Food Bank in a large community effort. Two semi-trailers packed with food arrived at 11 a.m., and leaders from both groups spoke.
Utah faces sharp hunger needs. More than 445,000 people do not know where their next meal will come from, and one in five children lives with food insecurity. The recent government shutdown increased strain on families. About 86,000 Utah households now risk losing access to benefits. AFS works to meet these needs and has donated close to 10 million meals over the past five years.
AFS donated $53,425 in food during this event. The truck carried frozen chicken and fish, hummus, sliced meats, cheeses, and several deli items, including macaroni and potato salads. It also carried a wide range of produce such as watermelon, onions, and a large supply of potatoes. These items will help restock the Utah Food Bank and its partner agencies before the Thanksgiving rush. The event gave the community a clear view of the work that goes into these efforts. Team members formed a line and passed cases from the truck to the warehouse.
Travis Boman, chief financial officer of Associated Food Stores spoke at the event and shared that serving neighbors is central to AFS. He said that AFS cares deeply about local families and values the long partnership with the Utah Food Bank. His message reinforced the steady commitment from the store teams, who take part in these efforts throughout the year. Many team members from AFS were present and took part in the unloading some product.
“Supporting our communities is at the heart of everything we do,” said Travis. “At Associated Food Stores, we believe in taking care of our neighbors, and we’re proud to partner with the Utah Food Bank to help meet urgent needs across the state.”
Ginette Bott spoke about the impact of these donations. She said the food arrives at an important moment for many families. She noted that items such as fresh produce and frozen chicken help fill critical gaps in supply. She expressed gratitude for the continued care shown by AFS and the broad support from so many partners.
The donation was made possible with help from several vendors. Their support added depth to the shipment and allowed the team to send produce, protein, and baby supplies that will help families across the state. The vendors include Hormel, Reser’s Fine Foods, Bel Gioioso Cheese, Blount Fine Foods, Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads, Lantana Hummus, Horizon Sales and Marketing, Dietz and Watson, Pampers, Huggies, Beach Nut, Sunkist Growers, Highline Mushrooms, Wada Farms, Robinson Fresh, Dole Fresh Fruit, Taylor Farms, Onions 52, Farmer’s Best, Bolthouse Farms, Kaliroy, Bar S, Southwind, Jennie-O, Sanderson, and Concord Foods.