Community in Action
How we’re building a stronger community together
At the groundbreaking! You support families like Udeme’s on their journey to stability.
Udeme’s New Home
How a trip to the food pantry turned into a new house, with your help
Last August, Udeme Idiong and his family participated in one of the most exciting moments of their lives—the groundbreaking for their new Habitat for Humanity home!
Getting there was a long journey, but CASFB supporters like you were beside them every step of the way.
Udeme first came to Community Action Services and Food Bank in 2020 for help to feed his family. Then he discovered our Learning Center and was quick to sign up for our four Financial Literacy classes. He learned about budgeting, building credit, eliminating debt, and saving for the future, skills he was eager to apply to improve his family’s life.
So Udeme set some ambitious financial goals for himself. One was to save at least $25 a month for six months so that he could qualify for our Save Up Club $200 Stipend. Another was to buy a house! To pursue that goal, he took our Homebuyer Education Class, where he learned about Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyer program. Udeme applied for one of two available homes, and with hundreds of other applicants, it was an anxious wait.
But Udeme was doing much more than waiting. He was actively working on his other goals, reducing his debt and increasing his credit. We’re glad to tell you that he succeeded in earning our Save Up Club Stipend, and all his hard work caught the eye of Habitat for Humanity, which selected his application for a home.
So many journeys like Udeme’s begin with a trip to our food pantry. That’s the heart of our FOOD+MORE programs—helping with immediate needs is the first step to so much more. As you continue your support in 2025, you’ll help many of your neighbors in the Utah, Summit, and Wasatch County region pursue their goals. Thank you!
Introducing Our 2025
Investing in People Initiative!
You know that investing in people changes generations. That’s why we’re launching our 2025 Investing in People Initiative! Every financial gift, food donation, and volunteer service hour helps individuals and families become more self-reliant, building a stronger community. That’s FOOD+MORE. Here are a few of the ways we can Invest in People together this year.
GiveHealthy Virtual Food Drive Program
Now, when you participate in an online food drive, our GiveHealthy Virtual Food Drive Program lets you order healthy foods that will be delivered to CASFB at the end of the drive. These special meals will help reduce nutrition insecurity among our guests, lowering their risk for chronic health conditions. Hooray for healthy choices!
Community Investor Giving Program
We’re inviting donors and businesses to join this new program at one of three levels: Champion, Advocate, or Connector. Each level offers unique benefits, including exclusive updates and recognition. Community Investors can also choose to focus their contributions in the area that matters most to them: General Giving, Food Pantries, Community Gardens, or Events.
24-Hour Volunteer Badge Program
We love our volunteers! Our virtual badge program is designed to recognize their valuable contributions. You can now earn a badge for every accumulated 24 hours of service. Earn our 96-Hour badge or higher, and you’ll be highlighted in our CASFB eNewsletter. Volunteer today and earn your First-timer badge!
Grow With Us
As we serve more people in more ways, we have outgrown our food pantry and office spaces! We’re planning a Comprehensive Campaign to expand our wraparound service center model to more parts of Utah, Wasatch, and Summit Counties. The support of passionate community members like you will be critical to giving even more of our neighbors the tools they need to thrive and achieve financial independence. Stay tuned for more!
To participate in our Investing in People Initiative, please visit our website or contact us directly at investinginpeople@casfb.org. Let’s invest in our community together!
Moving Forward Together
Happy New Year!
With partners like you by our side, we’re looking forward to another year of growing our FOOD+MORE programs. More families have come to us in need of food and housing assistance lately, but our education programs are also growing. Our Learning Center is teaching financial literacy at a record pace. Our Circles Initiative is now operating in both Utah and Wasatch Counties, helping even more families move out of poverty. We’ve also created a Circles Junior Leadership Initiative, helping youth ages 12–18 set themselves up for success.
All this growth brings some growing pains, of course. I hope you’ll join us for our upcoming Comprehensive Campaign as we expand beyond the wonderful space United Way of Utah County rents to us. New locations mean new opportunities!
Thank you for your friendship and for caring about your neighbors. I can’t wait to work with you in the new year.
Karen McCandless, CEO
6 Days, 22,000 KidPacks
Our community really came through for the National Day of Service Event in Provo, Sept. 9–14! Tom & LaDawn Painter rallied 2,000 people to assemble 22,000 KidPacks. The food was purchased with funds donated through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Giving Machines. Each KidPack contains a kidfriendly entrée and healthy snacks such as dried fruit and granola bars for kids who face food insecurity at home on the weekends. This outstanding effort means thousands of kids returning to school on Monday prepared to learn!
Volunteers Needed: Utah County Warming Centers
The Utah County Warming Centers are in need of volunteers 18 and older during the evening, late night, and early morning. The Warming Centers, in Provo and unincorporated Utah County, provide a place of warmth and safety for individuals experiencing homelessness each night from 9pm to 8am through April 30. Volunteers will be trained to work alongside experienced staff in set up, clean up, safety and security, and to provide guests with care and fellowship.
Visit app.vomo.org/opportunity/warming-center to learn more.
Upcoming Events 2025
Feed Utah Food Drive
Know Poverty Summit
Stamp Out Hunger & Hope of America Food Drive
CASFB Birthday Bash
Art City Days & Orem Fest Parades
Freedom Festival
Food+MORE Gala
For questions or additional information, please contact Kena Mathews at Community Action Services and Food Bank at kenam@casfb.org. Thank you!
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