The 2026 Feed Utah Food Drive was held in March and brought communities across Utah together to fight hunger. Food insecurity affects one in five Utah children and 445,000 people across the state. Associated Food Stores (AFS) and its Associated Retail Operations (ARO) played a pivotal role in ensuring the drive’s success, reinforcing the commitment to nourishing communities.
Utah Food Bank and Associated Food Stores collaborated for the fifth annual statewide Feed Utah food drive. ARO locations served as drop-off points for the community.
“We appreciate the many team members at retail and wholesale who made this effort possible,” said Sarah Pettit, director of public affairs.
ARO locations along with Lee’s Marketplace, Bella’s Market, Davis Food & Drug, Peterson’s Fresh Market and Stewart’s locations served as drop-off points in their communities, collecting a combined 165,443 pounds of food from generous shoppers. This massive contribution accounted for over half of the statewide total, helping push the Feed Utah Food Drive to an impressive 801,331 million pounds of food collected across all partners, including local agencies and the Utah Food Bank.
As inflation and economic pressure continue, AFS remains committed to innovating solutions through advocacy, logistics, or community engagement.
Sarah Pettit, public affairs director at AFS, shared her gratitude for the company’s efforts and the strong support from the community. She said, “Enriching lives, one grocer, one family, and one meal at a time. Our mission reflects a deep commitment to the communities we serve, especially those who face food insecurity.”
Sarah continued, “Together, through the 2026 Feed Utah Food Drive, we helped feed families in our communities. I am grateful to the many store teams, as well as our AFS drivers who contributed extra time and resources to help stock local food pantries. What we are doing is making a difference.”