CCS Dream Builder's Breakfast to honor those who serve

Tuesday, Apr. 18, 2023

OGDEN — In 2022, 5,746 volunteers in northern Utah contributed 14,577 hours of service at Catholic Community Services to help those in need. CCS will recognize a few of these volunteers and benefactors at its annual Dream Builder’s Breakfast on May 9 at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center.

America First Credit Union has been a significant donor to CCS Northern Utah, said Maresha Bosgieter, the nonprofit’s development director. “They are a huge supporter of our backpack and school supply drive. They give us so much stuff; it’s amazing and helpful.” 

Every month America First also sends volunteers to one of the schools served by CCS’s Bridging the Gap, a program that provides weekend groceries to school-age children in need, and the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank and Pantry. The credit union also donates more than $10,000 to the organization each year. During the pandemic, America First made an extra donation to CCS to “make sure that we could continue serving those who were most in need in such a difficult time,” Bosgieter said. “They’ve just been a wonderful partner for years.”

Lee’s Marketplace, a locally owned grocery store that will also be recognized at the breakfast, helps CCS by finding product and providing it at a reduced price, Bosgieter said. “They are fabulous to work with. Lee’s is always so amazing to always make sure they give us the best deal and the best sources for us to make sure we always get what we need, which has been a struggle for a lot of other stores.” 

In addition, Lee’s Marketplace runs an annual milk drive for the food bank and matches the donations given by the community. They also provide a generous yearly grant to help the organization stretch its food budget, Bosgieter said. 

Mary Hall has been an advocate and volunteer at CCS for many years, Bosgieter said. Hall currently works with clients to help them renew their food cards. If the organization has needs in other areas, “she’s always stepping up to work that as well.” Hall and her husband, George, are powerful advocates for CCS in the community, Bosgieter said. “Every time we have a need or an event they are always among the first ones to help out with whatever it is we need.”

Along with honoring those who contribute to CCS’s success and updating those in attendance about the organization’s progress, the Dream Builder’s Breakfast is a significant fundraiser for northern Utah operations, raising $70,000 to $80,000 each year. “We have a very generous community,” Bosgieter said.

In recent months, CCS has seen a significant increase in families needing assistance, Bosgieter said. Several pandemic-era federal benefits programs have ended, including rental assistance, enhanced food stamps benefits, Medicaid programs and free school lunches for all children. This, along with inflation, has hit many families hard, she said. “It just seems like everything is hitting those people who are struggling all at once.”

Another issue affecting CCS is that “we’re not getting as much from community donations, from Grocery Rescue, from the Utah Food Bank and USDA, so it’s definitely been a little bit of a struggle trying to address the increase in need along with the decrease in donations,”  Bosgieter said.

Last year, for example, the Feed Utah Food Drive brought in 185,000 pounds of food to the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank and Pantry; this year’s drive yielded just 65,000 pounds, she said. “We’ve seen that overall, from all of our food sources.”

The annual Dream Builder’s breakfast is CCS’s only fundraiser dedicated for northern Utah operations.