GOOD NEWS

63K Meal Bags Delivered To Needy Families At 5 Salt Lake City Schools

Dec 17, 2020, 7:46 AM | Updated: 7:49 am

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Before the sun was up at Backman Elementary School in Salt Lake City, a Christmas miracle was in its final stages as an army of volunteers unloaded pallets of potatoes and other food for needy families.

One of the miracle makers was Ron Gibson, President of the Utah Farm Bureau.

“These are volunteers, from Utah State University, FFA state officers, farmers and ranchers from all over the state helping us here today,” Gibson said.

Stronger Together. It’s not just a phrase here in Utah – it’s an action.

The potatoes are from the Miracle of Agriculture, a foundation created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And through that, we’ve been able to raise money to buy food from local farmers and then we donate that food to people who have food insecurity and people in need,” he explained.

It’s the final piece to a major donation effort that started more than a week ago on Instagram by local social media influencer Melea Johnson.

Social Media Influencer Raises Funds To Feed Thousands Of Utah Kids

KSL told you about her work earlier this month. She put out a call for help to her followers, nearly 500,000 of them.

“Within three hours we had hit our goal of $10,000. I was blown away,” Johnson said. The donations kept coming in. “When we hit 24 hours and I checked our totals, we were at $30,000. It ends up being 63,000 meals.

Johnson and other volunteers from the local non-profit For the Kids put the meals together.

Thousands of bags of food filled the floor at the school.

“This is absolutely amazing,” said Minda Zoloth from For the Kids. “It started out with us wanting to do 450 bags and it’s now 2,200 bags.”

Johnson and her family took an active role in this donation from the very beginning, and she said Wednesday was no different. “It’s definitely made this Christmas more special than others because we’ve been able to do something like this, something that is so simple. Food is so simple for some of us but a lot of us really really need it.”

Johnson said everyone can make a difference. “This is proof you can get stuff done in 2020 and everyone cares, there are still good people out there.”

Minda agreed, “It’s amazing, that’s the thing, during this whole thing of COVID, showing the spirit of Utah and people coming together to help and I think that overcomes anything else we can go through.”

You can contribute to the effort.

Visit their forthekids.org where you can volunteer or donate.

You can also help our farmers get their fresh food to families in need by visiting miracleofag.org and make a donation.

KSL 5 TV Live

Good News

Weber County Animal Services animal control officers helping the dog out of the old grain storage b...

Michael Houck and Shara Park

Dog rescued from wet, garbage-filled grain storage bin

A lost dog was reunited with her owner after being found in an old grain storage bin by animal control officers. 

16 days ago

PeeDee, the puppy found by Price City police officers and is being trained as a Critical Incident E...

Michael Houck

Abandoned puppy undergoes training as a Price City emotional support dog

An abandoned puppy found by a Price City police officer is now being trained as an emotional support dog for the department.

24 days ago

A mother holding a newborn in a hospital bed...

Shelby Lofton

Utah family chooses Leap Day for their daughter’s birthday

A Utah family celebrated the birth of their new baby girl who was born on a day that only comes every four years.

27 days ago

The stage of the Tabernacle Choir as they perform in Manila. (Dan Rascon, KSL News)...

Dan Rascon

Tabernacle Choir performs unforgettable concert in Manila

It was a night not to be forgotten in the Philippines as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed  its first major concert before thousands of Filipinos at the Mall of Asia’s 9,000 set arena.

29 days ago

Keith Sorenson opens a tool shed to display the tools of the trade. (Stuart Johnson, KSL News)...

Alex Cabrero

Taylorsville heritage center reclaims stolen historic anvils

A pair of historically-significant anvils were finally returned to Taylorsville after being stolen two years ago.

29 days ago

Henry Sorenson fights a small fire with Midvale Fire Department....

Alex Cabrero

5-year-old cancer patient sworn in to Unified Fire Authority

A 5-year-old battling bone cancer was sworn in as a Unified Fire Authority firefighter just before a major surgery.

1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

63K Meal Bags Delivered To Needy Families At 5 Salt Lake City Schools