$1 Million for Salt Lake City Only Clicks Away

Walmart, GiftCard Bäks and Utah Food Bank Team Up to Encourage Votes for Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, December 14, 2010 - With just a click of the mouse, Utahns could help Salt Lake City win $1 million to help Utahns at risk of hunger. Walmart and GiftCard Bäks are working together to bring awareness to Walmart's Fighting Hunger Together campaign which will award funds to non-profits fighting food insecurity in the city that records the most votes on Walmart's Fighting Hunger Together website.

Walmart, GiftCard Bäks and Utah Food Bank are encouraging all Utahns to vote for Salt Lake City from a list of 100 communities where hunger rates are the highest. The city with the most support will receive $1 million in grants and the next five cities with the highest support will receive $100,000 each. Salt Lake City is currently in 17^th place (up from 46^th place only yesterday).

Right now, 1 in 7 Utah children is at risk of hunger and Salt Lake City has a food hardship rate twice the national average with 18.2 percent of families not able to afford regular meals. Utah Food Bank, which serves 150 food pantries statewide, would receive a significant portion of the funding if Salt Lake City earned the most votes.

"We have increased our food distributed by over 30% in the last year in response to the growing need," said Jim Pugh, CEO of Utah Food Bank. "Unfortunately, this is not a trend that we see reversing and the $1 million would go a long way to helping individuals and families in need. Utah Food Bank touches every county in Utah, so every vote for Salt Lake City is truly a vote for those we serve throughout Utah. "

CLICK HERE to vote for Salt Lake City!

CLICK HERE to vote for Ogden/Clearfield!

 

About Utah Food Bank

Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 150 emergency food pantries and agencies statewide. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 30.8 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 23 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served 221,237 Kids Cafe meals, delivered 26,472 senior food boxes and answered 114,994 calls through its 2-1-1 Information & Referral service. For more information about Utah Food Bank call (801) 978-2452 or visit The Utah Food Bank. Find us on Facebook HERE and on Twitter HERE.