Utah Food Bank makes impressive progress

by David Boyle
News Director
Staff at the Utah Food Bank Southeast Distribution Center held a lunch on August 7 to update a crowd of about 50 community leaders on the group’s efforts over the past few years.
Speaking to the group, Utah Food Bank President & CEO Ginette Bott outlined the history of the Utah Food Bank which has been serving the state since 1904.
Bott shares the core mission is to distribute food free of charge to partner pantries, a practice that only a few food banks nationwide maintain.
In Utah, 494,000 people, including one in seven children, face food insecurity. To address this the Utah Food Bank asks for time, food or money.
Bott also explained the history of their recent expansion. During Covid-19 Utah Food Bank recognized a need to change how they distribute food and proceeded with expanding their St. George facility, and building a new facility in Springville.
San Juan County is among the largest beneficiaries of Utah Food Bank’s investments as the group built a distribution facility in Blanding as well as food pantries in Montezuma Creek and Monument Valley.
Bott explains the expansions were funded by $52 million raised and paid for without debt. Bott explained a significant portion of the funds came from federal COVID monies passed through the State of Utah.
The Blanding facility has been operating for about a year and a half under the direction of Utah Food Bank Southeastern Distribution Center Director Ron “RT” Nielson.
Nielson outlined the impacts of their efforts during fiscal year 2025, including distributing 1,346,000 pounds of food through the three local pantries in the past year.
The organization recorded 33,022 pantry visits at locations in San Juan County over the past year, equaling 13,172 households served with an average of 41 lbs provided per visit. Patrons who sign up can visit twice a month.
One program implemented in the county that mirrors a statewide effort is the grocery rescue program.
Bott explained across the state, the Utah Food Bank works with food distributors including 424 grocery stores to salvage food close to expiration including fruits, meats, cheese, and milk.
Across the state, the organization has rescued 23 million pounds annually taken to local pantries for immediate distribution that would otherwise have gone to landfills.
Nielson reports that 10,857 lbs of food have been rescued locally from the Maverik gas stations in Monticello and Blanding, as well as from Clarks Market. 
Nielson said Clarks Market was hesitant at first, but they have become a tremendous partner after leadership saw the facility’s impacts firsthand.
The three facilities across the county have also created nine full-time and two part-time jobs in the county. Nielson reports high demand, adding they saw 99 patrons in just four hours on a recent Tuesday.
Nielson says patrons represent a diverse group of friends, neighbors and family members across various cultures and family make-up, including single parents.
Nielson reflected on his own childhood growing up not far from the new Blanding facility, growing up in a three bedroom, one bath house with his widowed mother and eight siblings.
“My mom passed at 78. I swear her body was closer to 98 physically. She had to survive for us all, but I can only think what would this facility have meant to her.
“I think of that a lot. It definitely motivates (me and) my vision of what we do for those around us. Right here in San Juan County because I know it... would have been amazing for her.”
Bott and Nielson emphasised their request for the community to give time, money or food in the form of volunteer time.
Volunteer opportunities are plentiful at the Blanding Utah Food Bank Distribution Center. Those interested in working with the Food Bank can come by to receive orientation training and volunteer in a way that works best for them.
Volunteers can work on assignment basis or on a schedule that works for them.
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and receive an orientation.
The Utah Food Bank has a minimum age requirement to keep volunteers safe in their warehouse setting.
Nielson also shouted out one of his favorite weekly volunteers, Denise Lyman. 
“At 90 years old, she comes in every Wednesday and is amazing, and so on top of it.”
Supporters also asked to give food local Feed Utah Food Drive has been reinstated with the area collecting 7,500 pounds of food in March.
The Utah Food Bank is hoping to surpass that amount with a goal of 10,000 pounds of food next March.
Bott also reports they are learning and evolving with the community as they focus on the importance of nutrition, local diet and preference.
With a “client choice” pantry model that allows individuals to select specific items from shelves to ensure they take what is most useful for families.
The Utah Food Bank is also working to fundraise purchasing culturally specific foods and items beneficial for health conditions like diabetes.