LDS leaders back donations of food

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urges Utahns to donate food in the Utah Food Bank bags found in today's Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune.

The Food Bank's most needed items include high-protein products such as canned meats, tuna, stews, peanut butter and chili. Frozen turkeys can be taken directly to the Food Bank, 1025 S. 700 West.

Donation bags will either be picked up by community members or they can be dropped off at Jiffy Lube, Smith's Food & Drug, Riverton Motors, Wells Fargo Bank and the Food Bank.

"With the help of the community, we hope to be able to meet the rising need for food assistance this year," Food Bank director Jim Pugh said.

So far, the Food Bank has 664,000 pounds of food and more than 8,500 frozen turkeys. But last year at this time over 830,000 pounds of food had already been donated. The goal is to collect 1.5 million pounds of food. About 800 more turkeys are needed to fulfill all the requests.