The Food Bank needs our help!

I'm sure most of you have read the paper or have seen the news clips of the need for food at the Utah County Food Bank. At this time of year the food bank usually has over 900 crates full of food to give to the homeless and needy. Due to the bad economy and a greater need this time of year the food bank has just over 200 crates of food right now. This is not enough! Ever since I saw the report I can't get it out of my mind, so I've decided to do my part to help. It may not be much but it is better than nothing.

First, I have signed my family up for the activity night that they are offering until December. I am hoping this will help teach my kids about service and how there are people in the world that need our help. If you would like to sign-up here is the information...

Join us for our Family Activity Night "Kids Who Care" (Only by reservation) Monday and Tuesday nights (October through December) from 7:00-8:15 p.m. This is a free, interactive evening to teach children and families about local poverty and how they can help in our community (activities include service activity and tour of the food bank). Only families with children may participate in "Kids Who Care." To register your family please email Krysta at KTitel @CommunityActionUC.org or you may call 373-8200 ext. 247. These evenings fill up fast, so make your reservation today.

I thought about organizing a food drive but noticed that the Boy Scouts of America are doing an emergency drive on November 8th so I looked for another way that we could help.

After we visit the food bank I am going to start a project with my family to help the children in need. The food bank/Community Action is in need of 'Children's Holiday Snack Sacks' for the children whose families use the food bank over the holidays. This is what we will be doing...

We will be putting together and decorating special snack sacks for children. The bags will be simple brown or white paper lunch bags decorated by the kids with Christmas colors, pictures, stickers, etc. We will fill each bag with: 1 fruit juice box, 1 granola bar, a small holiday gift for a boy or girl (hair clips, crayons and coloring book, comb, toy car),and some holiday candy.

The food bank will then give them to each child that comes in throughout December. They only had 200 bags last year and ran out the first week. Since the need for food has increased this year they feel like 200 bags may only last a couple of days. So I am calling on all my friends & family to help me make this successful. Here's what you can do to help...

If any of you would like to donate items here is a list of items that we need:

Lunch sacks (brown or white) you can give them to me to decorate or decorate them first. It is up to you.

Christmas candy (individually wrapped)

small toys (cars, crayons, hair accessories, chap stick, books, card games, anything will be great)

juice boxes or capri suns

granola bars

Any money that you can donate will go towards buying these items

You can email me at sarahbear626@yahoo.com and I will be MORE than happy to come and pick up the items from you. Also, I would love some help spreading the word. Please post this info on your blog and put a link to www.sorensensspot.blogspot.com for more information. I will be collecting items until November 21st.

I know that my family is just a small group of people that may not be able to help a lot but I hope that through our efforts less fortunate families will feel our love and know that we are thinking about them this time of year!