If I had as great a ROI as the Utah Food Bank, I’d be a gazillionaire by now. Somehow the Utah Food Bank manages to take a $1 donation and turn it into $8 worth of goods and services.
The closest I’ve come is putting a quarter into a gumball machine and getting not one but two gumballs.
Though many businesses host food drives throughout the year, especially during the holiday season, so much more needs to be done. Food insecurity is higher in Utah than in most states throughout the country—basically more Utah families are uncertain where their next meal will come from and when.
How would YOU feel if you weren’t sure your family would be eating dinner tonight?
Just as sobering are the following statistics regarding hunger in Utah:
- Roughly 472,000 Utahns are at risk for missing one meal every day.
- One in seven Utah children are at risk of missing a meal.
- More than 87,000 meals are needed daily to end food insecurity in Utah.
…
This is where you and your dollar bills come in. The Utah Food Bank is making it super easy to donate by hosting a virtual food drive. By clicking on the “donate now!” button below, you can quickly and easily make a monetary donation to the food bank.
For every $1 donated, the Utah Food Bank
will turn it into $8 of goods and services.
This virtual food drive is in addition to the annual food drive, which runs October 15, 2012 through January 15, 2013. The Utah Food Bank has a goal to collect 2.5 million pounds of food and 23,000 turkeys during the holiday season.
I think we need to make it happen.
So how about this deal?
For every person who comments on this post,
Nathan and I will donate $1 to the Utah Food Bank
(up to $100…we’re not gazillionaires…yet).
…
*** UPDATE ***
Thanks to three anonymous donors
(one who is giving in the spirit of
Santa and Baby Jesus–LOVE this!),
we’ve upped the ante to $300!
…
Help us donate every single dollar of that $300 to the Utah Food Bank by getting your friends, family, Twitter peeps, postman and Mary Kay rep to comment!
If you want double the warm fuzzies, donate to the virtual food drive AND leave a comment on this post. That basically tacks on another $1 to your original donation.
I like that kind of math!
We wish we could do more, and maybe next year we will. Until then, we’ll do what we can to alleviate hunger in Utah…because every little bit dollar helps.
If you’re looking for other ways to help support the Utah Food Bank’s annual food drive, watch for the holiday food bags delivered in newspapers statewide during the first weeks of November and December. You can fill the bags with non-perishable food items and drop them off at Riverton Motors, RC Willey and Smith’s Food & Drug throughout Utah or to local food pantries.
Don’t have a Utah Food Bank food donation bag? Reuse one (or two or three) of your grocery store bags. You’ll be helping the environment AND helping Utah families—more DOUBLE warm fuzzies!
Did you know…
Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 129 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 34.4 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of more than 26 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served 181,579 Kids Cafe meals, delivered 43,740 food boxes and filled 43,033 kids’ backpacks for weekends and school holidays.
- Learn more about the Utah Food Bank by visiting UtahFoodBank.org.
- Find the Utah Food Bank on Facebook and Twitter.
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Feel free to “like” is this REALLY my life? on Facebook. It won’t always earn you an extra entry in a giveaway but it will give you warm fuzzies.
Don’t forget to sign up for free is this REALLY my life? updates via RSS or email so you don’t miss a single awesome post.
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Nicol
I’m so happy you’re taking on the Utah Food Back for your donations this year. So far I’ve donated 3 times this month to UFB, and plan to do do again whenever I have a chance. Nobody should have to go hungry!
Tauni
Emily, I love this post. Thank you for staying true to why you started blogging in the first place and sharing valuable information like this…Also? You’ve clearly had more success with gumball machines than I have.
xoxo, T.
carrian
Love this post. I have a special place in my heart for the food bank, as we watched our very close friends have to use it for a few months. It was heart breaking, but we are so glad that they were able to get what they needed and now they are back on their feet.
Paula
This is great! I had no idea $1 went so far ;)
Jessica
Thanks for being a part of Utah Food Bank’s success in alleviating hunger!
Adrian
It blows my mind that we have hungry people here in the richest country in the world. That is the “fiscal cliff” those dumbbell politicians should be worried about. But since we will probably never get there, its good that there are people like you who are willing to help!
Cobilynn
What a wonderful way to give!
Amy {The Idea Room}
This is such a great cause Emily! I love that you are finding a way to give back this season. The food bank is such a great service to those in need and you never know who is going to end up needing help at some time or another in their life.
Kristina P.
You are much too good of a person to be my friend. :)
Kendra @ My Insanity
This is a great thing you are doing here! I will be sure and spread the word!!
Becky
Wahoo! Lets feed some people! Great idea!
Cheryl A
Such a wonderful thing you are doing!
shirlene weber
May the Lord bless each and every dolllar back to you as well as the private donor. Food banks are in such need right now in every State. May you all have a bless Christmas.
Sumo
How awesome! You are an amazing lady! I toast my Diet Coke to you! :)
Lindsey from therhouse.com
It must be the new baby hormones (hee hee), but this post has me all kinds of teary. Bless you and Nathan and your bazillionaire hearts.
jacqui
come from Sumo’s =) what a great thing you’re doing! God bless!
Janet Thaeler
Emily,
Happy to support such a great cause! Thanks for doing this.
Blog On
Janet
Nikki
You are amazing for doing this!
jyl from @momitforward
I LOVE this! The information is awesome and the cause is wonderful. Reminds me of when we met, what?, 3 years ago and went caroling at the assisted living facility. Was it seriously that long ago? Crazy!
Anyway… such an awesome cause. Thanks for spreading the word and helping. You’re amazing!
xoxo
Holly
Love you to pieces. You are amazing!
Meredith
Awesome!
Frieda
How wonderful to support such a worthy cause! I am sure you will receive many blessings as a result.
Lindsey
Amazing!!!
~j.
I’m a fan of comments equaling money, and of food, and of the food bank, and of YOU! What a great project!
Mandy K
Awesome idea!! GOOD LUCK in your virtual food drive. :)
Melissa
Wahoo! Here’s a dollar!
vanessa
Let me know if you want to make it go up more, we can donate some mula.
Megan
What a fantastic way to help local families in need! Wish sometimes I had time to do more
Taralyn Parker
Love this idea! Happy to comment :)
Jen
Comment
evonne
another dolla, dolla bill yo.
what a generous thing to do.
bless you.
jen @ Tatertots & Jello
This is awesome Emily!!! I just shared it on my TT&J page. Love this :)
xoxoxoxoxo
Whitney Hasson
What a great gesture! It really reminds us of what the season is all about! Great luck to you and all who are involved in this!
Erin Handley
God Bless you both! Every bit helps. :) I will be sharing this on FB. :) least I can do!
Michele Spencer
What a wonderful thing you are doing! Merry Christmas!
Amber
Wow!! You are so generous for doing this! Happy to comment for such a great cause. :)
Melissa
Holla for a dolla! Awesome you’re doing this.
Tausha
This is a fantastic cause! Thanks so much for stepping up and showing all of us and excellent example.
Meg/Brassy Apple
I love a good cause! Thanks for sharing all the details and hosting this so we can all be a part!
steph
One of my favorite places to donate. You are amazing.
mom
I love warm fuzzies and this most thoughtful and inspiring opportunity to give to others!
Vanessa Barker
This is so great. We always try to donate to the food bank each Christmas!! Thanks for this awesome post
Emily R
Hooray for a great cause!
Sherri Boik
What a wonderful thing to do! Sharing your post on my fb page.
Melissa Ritz
What a great idea! Lots of great Karma coming your way, girl! :)
Jill
This is so awesome and inspiring! Thank you for helping feed so many!!
Melissa
What a nice idea to raise money for a good cause.
angie mortenson
What a beautiful thing to do!!!
Toqua's Crafts
What a lucky community you have to have such a wonderful and giving family as yours.
Krystal
Evonne from Sell party of 5 sent me here! This is so great. One more dollar to the food bank!
Cynthia
I always feel good when I donate to the Food Bank because I know that they can stretch a dollar and are totally committed to feeding the hungry. As someone who prefers non-profit programs to government programs because they flat out do it with better efficiency and more compassion! it’s more important than ever to help our local non-profits. Love what you’re doing Emily!
Shawn
That covered exactly the way I feel about Utah Food Bank. Thank you, Cynthia. You nailed it!
Jessica Williams
VERY COOL! :)
Lucky Red Hen
I hope you get 250 comments! I love food, so I love that people will be getting food :D
Christy
What a fantastic thing to do this month. Merry Christmas!
Melanie
What a great idea! So good of you guys to do this. Keep up the good work!
Mandy
Wonderful! Hope you get many comments!
Natalie D
Awesome! How could I pass up this easy opportunity to help?
Amber
Good job Em!!!!
Jessica W.
Awesome
Danielle
Here’s a buck!
rebecca
This is awesome, Emily!
Aleisha
I’m commenting!!!!! Wonderful what you are doing, dearest Emily. You’ve got a beautiful heart!
Dalene
I love supporting the Food Bank. Great cause!
Taryn
What wonderful and generous gift.
Susan
Your generosity is overwhelming!
Jennifer
Merry Christmas! What a wonderful cause!!!
Alli Miller @ Cupcake Diaries
I’m so happy that my comment will help donate to the Utah Food Bank! This is such a wonderful thing you’re doing!
Alexis
Wonderful!
amy
What a great thing to do! My MIL used to work for the UT food bank and I saw first hand some of the amazing things they do. :)
Lindsey
This is a great cause that I am more than happy to support. Good work!
Camille
Anything that supports thinking of others at Christmastime is something I can stand behind! Great job Emily!
Christina C
What a great idea to help this time of year…donate away!
Linsey
What a wonderful thing to do!
Susan Beckstrand
Thank you for this generosity!
Sadie
I love the UFB, I hope this drive will be a huge success!!
Chrystie Desmet
Wonderful way to make a difference!
Melodie
Love to be able to help out. Thanks for spreading the word.
Victoria @obSEUSSed
The Utah Food Bank is a fabulous organization. We do a big food drive competition at our elementary school and one class brought 1,000+ items. Great idea to share this on your blog.
Holley
Such a wonderful thing you are doing!!! If everyone just helped out a little, maybe there wouldn’t be people in this country going hungry! Bless you!
Karla
Great partnership! Crafting chicks and the utah food bank
Cami
Wonderful idea! <3
Lindsi
Awesome!
Molly
Wonderful and generous idea! Lets feed some people!!
Christine
Love this idea!
Lori @ EclecticMamma
Great idea! I can feel like I’m doing something without hobbling anywhere… :-p
Camille (SixSistersStuff)
This is such a brilliant idea!!! Thanks for heading this up!
Jill K
I can get into this.
Max W
I volunteer at the food bank and it is a very worthy cause for sure. We really appreciate you doing this and helping the hungry!!!!