Center of Hope Food Pantry offers help to those in need

IC photo by Christine Young

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The Ladies of Charity serve about 60 families on a monthly basis at an at-risk school in Salt Lake City.

NORTH SALT LAKE — The North Salt Lake City mayor and leaders met with Daughter of Charity Sister Germaine Sarrazin and Saint Olaf Ladies of Charity (LOC) leaders Oct. 4 to help make their food pantry known to area residents.

The Ladies of Charity opened as a food pantry in May of this year, but because the awning above the center reads Card Sharks, it’s not immediately evident.

Kim Jensen from the North Salt Lake Planning Commission noticed a Utah Food Bank truck parked outside the center as she was driving by and stopped to inquire. That resulted in the meeting, during which she, North Salt Lake Mayor Len Arave and other community leaders said they would work with the center to post LOC information on the city’s website. The mayor and Rep. Becky Edwards have agreed to send a letter to the schools so educators will know help is available in North Salt Lake.

About 15,000 people currently live in North Salt Lake, and about 3 percent of those need assistance, Arave said. “I think what these ladies are doing is wonderful, especially when you look at the economic times we are in today and the people in need. I think it is a great service they are providing to our city.”

The center, at 18 South 130 East in North Salt Lake next to Orchard Bowl, serves North Salt Lake, Woods Cross and West Bountiful. The food pantry is open the second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We serve those who fall between the cracks,” said Sr. Germaine. “We are here for the new poor and the struggling.”

The Ladies of Charity have always supplemented individuals and families with food, and given people clothing and household items and furniture when needed. They currently serve about 85 families on a monthly basis.

“We have a good working relationship with the Bountiful Community Food Pantry, who gives us bread each month and produce and meat when it is available,” said LOC member Silvia D’Ausilio. “Our facility is too small to operate on the scale of the Bountiful Food Pantry, so they help us when they can.

LOC doesn’t have a commercial freezer, so they can distribute only dried and canned foods. They don’t give people enough food for a month’s supply, just a stipend.