Road trips are the best time to catch up with my spouse. Throughout the week, we barely have time to put on pants, so conversations rarely get to be in-depth. Instead, we get a quick overview of the day’s events. Those retellings are constantly interrupted with either bickering, begging or the kids sharing details about their day, which is always welcome when it’s more than “fine.” I look forward to the long drives out to western Utah to go dirt biking because it’s a time to reconnect. We perch in the captains seats of our minivan like we’re William Riker and Deanna Troi commanding our ship, swapping tales thinking our progeny have tuned us out. Not so. Somehow, whenever I’m sharing a piece of juicy gossip, Bodie pipes up in the back with a follow-up question as he’s been closely following the conversation. I’m quickly reminded kids are constantly listening, retaining and retelling at the most inopportune times.

Every piece of scandal, diplomacy or concern is filed away by the people in the back of the van, only to be expressed later. I recently was discussing the current economic buzz word “recession.” The last recession put us underwater with our newly purchased home, saw our jobs RIF (reduction in force) those around us, leaving us grateful we were too young to really lose anything. Now there’s a lot more on the line, but I was fortunate to marry a person good with money, willing to teach me the art/sacrifice of saving. Little did I know this recession conversation was squirreled away for another day.

My 14-year-old eventually came out with her worry about whether or not our family would be hit by the possible recession after hearing a story on NPR. I assured her we would survive with very little change (fingers crossed). She then shared her concern for her friends. I understand these worries because I see the daily struggle so many in our community are dealing with every single day thanks to social media.

Borrowing costs are high, grocery bills are insane, gas in Utah continues to be predatory despite other states seeing lower prices and the affordable housing crisis continues. Nowhere is this more evident than reading community social media pages. Not a day goes by where some soul isn’t needing cash, asking for work or sharing his Venmo handle. More often than not, these are scams, but occasionally I’ll see the mother asking for directions to the nearest food pantry, bishop storehouse or Blessing Box hoping to get food for the rest of the week. Times are tough, or at least as tough as I’ve ever witnessed.

Rob Nielsen recently reported in the Standard-Examiner the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank and Pantry is running out of food. Nearly 10,000 members of our community use this food bank to make ends meet; it is a key piece of survival for some of our neighbors. The Centers for Disease Control released its June statistics on the number of Americans experiencing hunger. That number is up 12% from a year ago — about 26.5 million people in this country don’t’ have enough to eat. The CDC says this is due in part to food aid programs related to the pandemic ending, as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being restricted back in March.

Communities rally around those who need affordable options for food. Tri-City Exchange appears to be making a difference in Northern Utah as a food bank. Each week, I see droves of people lining Washington Boulevard in North Ogden looking to get food. While I could say it makes me think of the bread lines of the 1930s, it appears folks from all economic backgrounds line up with their coolers and wagon hoping to score cheap food. On days where the Exchange has a surplus of ice cream, the lines is even longer because who doesn’t want ice cream?

Gary Attebery, with his organization Do-Good-Today, is on the front lines of those experiencing every type of shortage. He helps those dealing with homelessness, he finds furniture for those recently placed in housing, he visits those places no one wants to go and brings food, clothing and hope. Attebery says he’s seeing an increase in our community members going without food but credits Catholic Community Services with feeding the hungry. Gary has made the difference in so many lives in our area.

There are other options out there for community members not getting enough food. To start, dial 211 on your phone to get connected to resources, whether it be for food, housing or health needs. Roy City has a Blessing Box located behind the city’s municipal building. Another Blessing Box can be found next to Terrace Muffler in Washington Terrace off 4700 South. Located out front of the Syracuse Police Department, folks can find another Blessing Box. While it’s wonderful to help those in our community struggling with food, it wouldn’t be possible without those community members who fill the Blessing Boxes. If you’re able, stop by these locations and load these pantries with nonperishable items that can make the difference between a family having a good day or a bad day.

My kids have never experienced real hunger. The idea they may not get something for breakfast, lunch and dinner has never crossed their minds because they are privileged. When they fear recession, a RIF or overhear complaints of inflation, they worry Christmas will be small or that summer vacation will be cut short. Other kids don’t just overhear the worry, they live it while watching Mom and Dad fight to provide the most basic need — food.

Meg Sanders worked in broadcast journalism for over a decade but has since turned her life around to stay closer to home in Ogden. Her three children keep her indentured as a taxi driver, stylist and sanitation worker. In her free time, she likes to read, write, lift weights and go to concerts with her husband of 17 years.

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