Larry H. Miller Dealerships across Utah will partner with Utah Food Bank during the month of September to help fight child hunger. As children head back to school, more than 20 dealership locations from Riverdale to Provo will collect food items for Utah Food Bank’s BackPack Program, which ensures that children have food to help sustain them during the weekend. While 177,000 students in the state participate in free or reduced-price meal programs during the school week, they often don’t know where their food will come from during the weekend.
“One in five Utah children don’t know where their next meal will come from. That’s a startling statistic, and we’re determined to do our part to help address this great need in our community,” said Dean Fitzpatrick, president, Larry H. Miller Dealerships.
Utahns may drop off essential food items at any Larry H. Miller dealership location throughout the month of September, or they may make an online donation at utahfoodbank.org/lhmdealerships. The following list of items are needed for the BackPack Program:
- shelf-stable milk (8 oz.)
- peanut butter
- fruit cups
- granola bars
- boxed juice
- fruit snacks
- apple sauce
- instant oatmeal packs
- crackers
- sunflower seeds
- raisins
- instant breakfast
- trail or granola mixes
“For a donation of just $4.11, Utah Food Bank can provide a child with a backpack of food to help sustain them during the weekend,” said Ginette Bott, chief development officer, Utah Food Bank. “In 2015, Utah Food Bank distributed 63,000 backpacks through 35 after-school sites. With the assistance of Larry H. Miller Dealerships, we can continue to serve these children in need.”
The BackPack Program delivers food to partner schools and after-school programs every week during the school year. A school employee fills participating student’s backpacks with packs of food each Friday with enough food to help sustain the child through the weekend. All food items are child-friendly and easy to open and prepare.
