Provo food bank closes temporarily as Utah County takes over its warming center

Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo temporarily closed Nov. 1 while its board of trustees decides what to do next, citing falling grant funding and donations and growing demand for its services, the Lehi Free Press reported. The organization served Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties. ^[2]

It is no longer accepting donations, and it is unclear how long the closure will last, FOX 13 reported in a story published by The Salt Lake Tribune. The closure came after the community raised more than $100,000 in recent weeks to meet an Oct. 30 goal the food bank set to keep its doors open; Provo city leaders said two private donors gave $50,000 each. ^[1]

“Our greatest sadness is knowing that the need for these services has not gone away,” Interim CEO Caitlin Rangel said. ^[2]

County takes over the warming center

Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran said in a Facebook statement that the county has been coordinating to keep services running with as little disruption as possible, including taking over the Utah County Warming Center, which opened Nov. 1 as scheduled. Beltran said more than 20,000 residents rely on the organization's services and more than 50 employees are affected, and that several furloughed employees are volunteering to help with the warming center transition. ^[2]

Beltran blamed “years of financial and operational mismanagement” and a recent escalation of financial instability, and said the closure should not be seen as a failure of the government partners that supported the programs. ^[2]

The Ledger reported Oct. 26 that the food bank had cut 15 jobs and reduced pantry hours and said it needed $1.5 million by the end of the year. ^[3]