No one wants to hear their stomach rumbling in protest from lack of food, not knowing when their next meal might come. Yet, this unpleasant situation is becoming more and more common in the United States. According to a 2006-2008 study by the USDA, there were 117,281 “food insecure” children under the age of 18 in Utah alone last year. One can’t guess just by looking around who might be going hungry because they can’t afford any food.

In order to do its part to combat hunger in Utah, Bountiful High is putting on a food drive tomorrow — Friday, Nov. 4, under the direction of the BHS Student Service Club. Other schools in the area have also been doing food drives this week, and will be bringing what they’ve collected to Bountiful High on Friday. All the donations will then be sorted into bins and stacked in the back of a semi truck which will be parked at the school by service club members. Once everything has been sorted and placed into the truck it will be taken away and delivered to the food pantry.

“Last year we were able to collect 22,732 lbs of food and $1907.58,” said Karen Packard, a PTA service club mom, in response to a question about the success of the food drive in previous years.  “Also, last year Jiffy Lube matched the donations so all of what we collected was doubled, however, this year they are unable to do the matching.  So our goal will be to collect at least 23,000 lbs of food and $2,000.” 

With this goal in mind, the service club is hoping for the food drive to be both well received and successful. Any contribution would be welcome as they are looking to gather nonperishable foods along with hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, and laundry detergent.

Even a single can of food or one extra bar of soap can make a difference in someone’s life, just give what you can. It will make a difference.

By Laura Densley