Southern Utah food banks prepare for increased needs

IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — As federal SNAP benefits are set to run out in November due to the government shutdown, food banks in Southern Utah are preparing for increased demand.

Food pantries across Utah have been bracing for increased demand from furloughed federal workers and now, they’re expecting an even greater need. SNAP benefits are set to run dry on November 1st.

Approximately 87,000 households across Utah depend on the SNAP program for their food essentials.

James Jetton with Iron County Care and Share said, “I’m estimating probably around a 25%-30% increase in clientele within the next week or two, and then it’ll probably increase after that. If this goes on.”

For Jetton, his concern is focused on the local community.

“Whatever issue is going on, that’s at the federal level. But in the meantime, my concern is less about that and more about, you know, the people that are here every day and the people in our community and, you know, just making sure that they feel supported,” he said.

Fortunately, while many will be affected and may be frequenting food pantries, others across Utah are taking this as an opportunity to help where they can.

“These are our neighbors, and letting them go hungry is not acceptable,” Jetton said.

“People are helping with monetary donations. People are calling to volunteer. That’s the great thing about Utah. We live in a culture that when we put out the call for help, people rally,” Ginette Bott with the Utah Food Bank said, “But how long can people help before this situation impacts them?”

She added that families may have to reevaluate their budgets and begin to plan for the weeks ahead, “You can start to plan on how to help fix the deficit on all of the things that your family needs, not just food. Families, you’re going to have to be responsible. They’re going to have to take on an element of planning and they’re going to have to look at their budgets differently than they ever have.”

Both the Utah Food Bank and local pantries say that donations of food, money, or time will make a huge difference for the community in the following weeks.

“Utah Food Bank can’t do this alone,” Bott said, “It’s going to take a lot of different entities to come together.”