Hunger somehow seems more painful during the holidays, when people are splurging on special treats.
The Utah Food Bank some months ago came up with a way to make surplus food go further. Restaurants, caterers, hotels and other outlets have been donating to the food bank's Give SOME (So Others May Eat) program.Now, the Charge Against Hunger, Share Our Strength and American Express campaigns to fight hunger in America are helping the local effort. Next week the program will receive a $10,000 grant to purchase and install a dishwasher for efficient sanitation of food containers.
An estimated 13 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States each year. And 20 million Americans go hungry each week. The grants, totaling $250,000, have been given to 22 prepared and perishable food rescue programs nationwide.
There's more good news - and opportunity to reach out to others - for the holidays:
- The Christmas Seals "Kids Drawing Contest" invites Utah children ages 6 to 15 to audition for the winning design of the 1994 Christmas Seal. The contest theme is "Things That Make You Feel Good at the Holidays." There will be 52 finalists - one from each state; Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Each finalist will win an electronic sketching pad, the V-Tech Video Painter, and his or her drawing will be entered in the national judging. The national winner will receive a personal computer with a full range of graphic software and a color printer, and the winning drawing will become an official Christmas Seal distributed to more than 30 million homes. The program is sponsored by the Triaminic Parents Club.
For information on how to enter, call 1-800-LUNG-USA to be connected with the local American Lung Association. Christmas Seals raise money for the prevention of lung disease - the third leading cause of death in the United States.
- The Community Christmas Tree at Fashion Place Mall is decorated with ornaments representing underprivileged children who need a Christmas gift. Sponsored by Fashion Place shopping center, Dillard's department store and KVRI Variety 98.7 Radio, shoppers can choose a child to help from ornaments on the tree in front of Dillard's through Sunday, Dec. 19.
Ornaments may be picked up and gifts dropped off during the center hours: Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 19, 12-8 p.m. All gifts are guaranteed to be delivered to a needy child by Christmas Day.
- The Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 South, is sponsoring a Christmas arts and crafts sale Friday, Dec. 17, through 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Included are jewelry, pottery, bead work, sand paintings, Navajo rugs and other items by American Indian artists. Admission is $1.
- Employees of Gem Insurance Co. canceled plans for their annual holiday party and instead donated $2,000 to the YWCA of Salt Lake City. The money will be used to help the agency's transitional housing program for homeless women.
It's becoming a tradition for the insurance company. Last year the firm donated the money to Travelers Aid Society for the women's and family shelters. Throughout the year Gem has also worked with the homeless shelter on a clothing drive and delivering food to the Utah Food Bank.
- The Utah Medical Assistance Program and Sizzler Restaurant hosted a Christmas Feast/Fest for needy families at the Greek Orthodox Reception Center.
Sizzler employees cooked and served a complete Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and purchased gifts for each guest, especially toys for the children. Tom and Jerry, the cartoon cat and mouse, provided entertainment.
UMAP helps low-income Utahns receive essential medical services.
- Tel America is wishing patients at Primary Children's Medical Center and homeless people in Salt Lake City a happy holiday by providing them with free long-distance phone calls to anywhere in the United States.
It's the first time the company has offered the free calls to both sick children and homeless people.
- Look for the "Gold Toe." Shoppers who purchase specially packaged "Gold Toe" socks can select the charity of their choice and Gold Toe will donate $1 on behalf of the customer. The package will contain an attached postage-paid reply card. The Gold Toe Charity Exchange has the potential to raise more than $1 million through the end of December to aid "Save the Children," "Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America" and "AMFAR for Pediatric AIDS Research."