Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo (CASFB) announced a critical funding gap that threatens its ability to provide essential nutrition and shelter services to Utah County families. The nonprofit must raise $100,000 by the end of October to keep its operations afloat.
Rising Need Outpaces Resources
Since June, CASFB has seen a steady increase in the number of new families seeking assistance. “Every month since June, we have seen the number of new families increase,” said Jessica Miller, the organization’s chief impact officer. “Last month, that was 134 new families,” she added, noting that this surge reflects a broader five‑year trend of growing demand.
Personal Stories Highlight Impact
One of the recent newcomers, Antonio Gonzalez, credits the food bank with helping him break a 15‑year cycle of addiction. “Before I got hired here, I was lost in my addiction for 15 years,” Gonzalez said. The organization provided him with a hotel room for a job interview, funded his training to become a peer‑certified support specialist, and helped him secure stable housing and reunite with his children.
Gonzalez warned of the consequences if the food bank were forced to close: “If it wasn’t for Community Action, I’d be out in the street in the cold.” His testimony underscores how many families rely on CASFB for basic needs.
Leadership Change and Community Response
When the board reviewed the financial shortfall, it acted quickly, appointing Caitlin Rangel as interim CEO to replace Tom Hogan. The board also recruited local leaders with financial and operational expertise, including Val Hale and Sheldon Miner, to guide the organization through this crisis.
Rangel emphasized the long‑standing relationship between the food bank and the community: “Our community has relied on Community Action for generations, and right now Community Action is relying on our community.” She added that Utah County officials have pledged assistance, enabling the warming center to open on November 1.
Call for Donations
CASFB urges residents, businesses, and faith‑based groups to contribute to the emergency fund. “We’re just like a regular business—we have to pay our staff, rent, and keep the lights on,” Miller said. “It’s heartbreaking because if we close, there are so many families that wouldn’t have the resources to put food on the table for their kids.”
Donors can learn more and give online through the organization’s website. Every contribution brings the food bank closer to meeting its $100,000 goal and ensures that vulnerable families in Provo and the surrounding county continue to receive vital support.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Scripps) – Utah County — read the source article.
