Food Bank sets goal of 800,000 pounds

It's an ambitious goal but one Utah Food Bank officials are optimistic they'll reach — collecting 800,000 pounds of food in one day.

The amount accounts for nearly half of the food bank's holiday food drive goal of 2 million pounds, and comes as part of the fourth annual Alliance for Unity food drive taking place on Saturday.

"It's the biggest day of the year for us," spokeswoman Amberlie Phillips said.

Church leaders from all denominations have encouraged members of their congregations to contribute to the one-day drive, Phillips said, such as a letter from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was read across the pulpit at various LDS meetinghouses recently.

Congregations are doing different things to encourage their members to participate in the food drive, such as offering to go door-to-door to pick up items or asking people to bring bags of food to their holiday parties.

Donations can be taken directly to the Utah Food Bank all day Saturday, where more than 100 volunteers will be on hand to man several drop-off spots. The food bank is located at 1025 S. 700 West.

Items will also be accepted at any emergency food pantry or holiday food drive sponsor, including Jiffy Lube, Smith's Food & Drug, Riverton Motors and Wells Fargo Bank.

Subscribers to the Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune will find donation bags in their newspapers today. Of course, donations will be accepted in any type of bag. High-protein foods such as canned meats, tuna fish, peanut butter and chili are particularly in need.