Donated food brightens holidays

SALT LAKE CITY — Lisa Brimmer works full time, but as a single mom of three, sometimes that paycheck gets stretched mighty thin. That was why Brimmer showed up Wednesday for a Christmas food package that will not only feed her family, but brighten their holiday as well.

"This really helps out," she said, looking over a bag of rolls, a pumpkin pie and other goodies. "I'm so grateful for it."

Rowland Hall, at 970 E. 800 South, served as the distribution site for the Crossroads Urban Center, which ran the event with help from the Utah Food Bank.

A sizeable share of money came from the Utah State Bar's 20th annual food and clothing drive. The bar raised more than $21,000 this year and also donated money from that to the Eagle Ranch Distribution Center.

Other donations and help came from Grove Market, Rocky Mountain Power, the Bastian Foundation, Eccles Broadcasting Center at the University of Utah, Mount Tabor Lutheran Church and a slew of individuals.

The fact that so many different community groups pulled together was good news, said Pamela Atkinson, a longtime activist for low-income and homeless people.

"This collaboration between the groups means more people get served," she said.

The place was packed with a veritable army of volunteers, and even Utah Gov. Gary Herbert stopped by.

The school building was a well-organized and slightly noisy hub of activity as food-package recipients walked into the basement, spoke with intake workers, made their way through carefully marked lanes, collected a variety of foods bagged and ready to go, and then headed upstairs for rolls and meat.

Among the items available were a choice of ham, turkey or cooked turkey-ham for those who have no cooking facilities (one-person households received a chicken), along with potatoes, onions, carrots, oranges, grapefruits, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and a pie.

"We're prepared to give out 1,400 to 1,800 family or individual bags," said Liz Paige, director of service learning at Rowland Hall.

The school marshaled its students, parents, alumni and staff to help with the food distribution, and many recipients got help carrying bags to their cars.

Paige said Rowland Hall hopes to ingrain in its students a lifelong sense of reaching out to help others.

"This is a great opportunity for our own family (at the school) to work together to create a tradition of service in the community," she said.

That lesson has not been lost on Jacob Hampton, 23, a graduate of Rowland Hall who now attends the University of Utah.

"I've done this off and on for the past seven years," he said.

Food recipient Dan Sever said he appreciated the effort.

"It's wonderful," he said, holding a bag of food while standing near two of his neighbors who also took part in the program.

Sever, who works full time, but needs some extra help this time of year, said he's a pretty good cook. He plans to have a Christmas dinner with his neighbors and his roommate. "I'm glad everyone's got the holiday spirit."

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com