Hoping to make fast friends: Officials signing on to Feed America Day

PROVO — If not for the food bank, Deborah Seitz wouldn't be eating.

Seitz lost her job four months ago. And in today's difficult economy, many others are in similar situations.

"It's been an extra-tough year," the Orem resident said.

Seitz was one the speakers Thursday night at the Utah County Council of Governments meeting held at the Community Action Services and Food Bank, where nine Utah County mayors and a county commissioner signed a joint proclamation to support Feed America Day.

The proclamation encourages the public to fast for two meals the Thursday before Thanksgiving and then donate the money they would have spent on food to help feed the hungry.

Feed America Day was started seven years ago by Provo resident David Earl Perry, who called it a "fast for friends." Over the years, it has been adopted by cities across the country.

Perry said he woke up one morning and thought, "Why not take fasting and put it in a secular venue?" He went to Provo Mayor Lewis K. Billings, who then took the idea of Feed America Day to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where 640 mayors from around the country passed a resolution to encourage observance of the day.

"It's a no-brainer," Billings said. "If all of us do a little bit, we can do a lot."

For Thursday's signing of the proclamation, Perry dressed up as Abraham Lincoln — the president who made Thanksgiving a national holiday. Perry said four congressmen have signed the proclamation this year, including Sens. Bob Bennett, R-Utah; Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Harry Reid, D-Nev.; and Tom Udall, D-N.M.

"The concept is very simple," Perry said. "It's a one-on-one caring."

Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson said what he likes about Feed America Day is that it is people in the community helping out their neighbors. Ellertson said sometimes people don't think about giving back to those right at home.

At the end of the meeting, the mayors, county commissioner and Perry stepped on a scale at the facility and together weighed about 2,500 pounds. Myla Dutton, executive director of the food bank, said Community Action Services gives out three times that weight in food every day.

This year, Community Action Services and Food Bank, which serves Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties, has seen about a 50 percent increase in requests for assistance, Dutton said.

About 61 percent of the people the food bank is currently serving have never asked for help before, she said. Many of those people never thought they would need help — and some even used to be donors to the food bank, Dutton said.

"Being without food is a very scary thing," she said. "Feed America is a chance for people to give to their community. It's another way to remember the people in your neighborhood. It's a way to get involved and make a difference."

e-mail: slenz@desnews.com