Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank helps the northern Utah community

Friday, Oct. 07, 2016

OGDEN — Catholic Community Service’s Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank in Ogden has been active since 1982, providing an average of 200,000 pounds of food each month to 2,300 struggling households.

To do that, CCS relies on the help of many volunteers.

“For me it means that they are trying to make a change. … even if it is with something minor,” such as volunteering just a short amount of time, said Griselda Green, volunteer coordinator for CCS Northern Utah.

Green is always very grateful for all the people who step up and donate their time, treasure and talents for the good and service of others.

“The other day at the orientation an old Latino couple went to the whole orientation, [they were at the back and didn’t say a word] I am assuming without understanding very well. At the end of it they approached me and asked me in Spanish ‘How can we help?’ … That just touched me,” said Green.

CCS has a diversity of clients; some speak English and others don’t.

On Sept. 28 CCS Northern Utah celebrated an open house at the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank to demonstrate to the public how it is operated.

The Food Bank consists of a big warehouse that includes a pantry. Volunteers work from Monday through Friday, sorting, stocking, organizing and distributing food.

As the largest food pantry in northern Utah, the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank serves around 6,000 people each month. Their clients are people below the 150 percent  federal poverty level. 

Each month the food pantry also provides 250 home/site deliveries to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Statistically 1 in 6 Utahns and 1 in 5 children suffer from hunger. More than 50 percent of CCS clients are under the age of 18.

Sherry Pasker and her husband have been longtime volunteers at the food pantry.

For her that volunteer work gives her lots of joy.

“After retirement we had a lot of time in our hands, so one of our neighbors invited us to come here and volunteer, and when we saw all the good. … It is heart wrenching and it’s so rewarding to say that you are helping people improve their lives and try to make things better for themselves with our help,” said Pasker.

“To hear these experiences and to see our clients when they first come and when they get the help makes us realize that we are making a difference,” said Maresha Bosgieter, CCS Northern Utah’s development director.

An orientation is held every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for those interested in volunteering  at the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank. Bosgieter invites anyone who wishes to contribute with their time, talents or treasure to approach CCS Northern Utah.

For information or to schedule a volunteer activity, call 801-394-5944 or email volunteersccsnu@ccsutah.org.