Updated: Utah Food Bank hosts 5K fundraiser; ‘H.A.M It Up Against Hunger’

SOUTHERN UTAH – Utah Food Bank is proud to host its first fundraiser in the St. George area Sept. 12.  The “H.A.M. It Up Against Hunger Race” will be part of Utah Food Bank’s statewide efforts to celebrate national Hunger Action Month, which takes place during September.

Utah Food Bank hopes the race will increase awareness about the issue of hunger in our state, especially in Southern Utah, and bring attention to the work they are doing through their Southern Distribution Center.

“It is all about awareness and education,” Ginette Bott, Chief Development Officer for Utah Food Bank, said. “If people don’t know there is a problem they don’t know how to help, but if they know how to help, they will.”

This family friendly 5K will begin and end at Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center, 4416 S. River Road in St. George.

“We want people to come to the food bank and see where we are and what we do,” Bott said.

The race begins at 8 a.m. and there is no registration at the event. Online registration closes Sept. 10. Registration fees are just $20 per person with a group discount of $5 per person for groups of five or more.

All the money raised through race fees will go directly to assist in feeding the hungry in Southern Utah, Bott said.

“By the nature of our culture we are a very giving and compassionate people,” Bott said. “If we need help and put out the call for help, people rally. When we say ‘please come,’ they do.”

Packet pickup and in-person registration will be on Sept. 11 at the race location. There will be a $5 price increase per person for late registration. Registration information and further details can be found by visiting Utah Food Bank’s website. Costumes are highly encouraged and Utah Food Bank is looking forward to the creative ways that Southern Utahns will choose to “H.A.M. It Up Against Hunger.”

The Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center serves six Southern Utah counties – Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, San Juan and Garfield – and distributes food to various food pantries and soup kitchens in those counties.

With over 36,000 Southern Utah residents unsure where their next meal will come from, 15,000 of them children, Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center is at the forefront of the fight against hunger in Southern Utah. Every sponsorship dollar and entry fee raised from this race will directly support Utah Food Bank’s work in Southern Utah.

“We work hard to help Utahns across the state who are struggling to access enough food to thrive. The number of people in Southern Utah who are facing hunger are a key focus of our work, and the statistics here are worse than the national average in some counties,” Bott said. “We hope that this race will show the Southern Utah community just how pervasive hunger is in the area, and how they can support us as we work to mitigate it.”

About Utah Food Bank

Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 134 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 37.5 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of approximately 31.3 million meals, to families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served close to 245,000 Kids Cafe meals, delivered almost 41,000 food boxes and filled more than 60,000 kids’ backpacks to help sustain children facing hunger throughout the weekends.

Event recap

  • What: “H.A.M. It Up Against Hunger Race” 5K
  • When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 a.m.
  • Where: Utah Food Bank Southern Utah Distribution Center, 4416 S. River Road, St. George
  • Cost: $20 per person | $5 discount per person on groups of five or more | $5 additional charge for late registration
  • Registration: Register online by Sept. 10 or in person Sept. 11 at the race location
  • Additional information: Race organizers encourage the community to come dressed in costume

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