To honor the National Day of Service, InterWest Moving & Storage organized a community food drive benefiting students in the Jordan School District, especially those facing food insecurity.

Grab-and-go snacks were collected at the South Jordan Parkway Walmart, with additional donation boxes placed at B Space Salon, Beddy’s, Guild Mortgage, Millrock Management and Northwestern Mutual. More than 672 pounds of food was collected.

“We're always about getting involved with the community,” Roman Fisher said, who works in sales and business development for InterWest Moving & Storage. “How are kids supposed to learn if their stomachs are growling because they're hungry? They can’t focus so we need to get them food to help propel their life forward with what they're studying.”

One in four Jordan students qualify for reduced or free school lunch, according to Jordan Education Foundation Executive Director Mike Haynes.

Fisher connected with Jordan Education Foundation member Tracy Miller at a South Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting.

“He introduced himself and said, ‘Let’s work together on something,’” she said. “Since the principal pantry is a big part of what the foundation does — stocking pantries at all 68 of our schools for those kids in need — he suggested a fill-the-truck event. It’s what we need to help students.”

South Jordan Parkway Walmart store manager Kevin Carlile offered his location as a drop-off site. Fisher handled logistics and rallied local businesses.

“We ran around and got some businesses involved and dropped off some boxes for donations,” Fisher said. “When I told the corporate headquarters in Idaho Falls, they were in love with the idea and wanted us to be a part of it.”

Haynes said filling school pantries is critical.

“Every year we start off with schools that have empty pantries,” he said. “We want to fill them as soon as possible. 

A lot of our teachers also are stocking their classrooms with snacks. We provide classroom grants to teachers. Every teacher can get up to $500 and in the past, a lot of them have been asking for food to keep in the class for those students who need it. Now they just make it available to everybody. It’s equalized and it’s easier for those students in need to feel better about taking food supplies and other things.”

With community support, Haynes said funds can now go further.

“We now take that money and use it in other places to make a difference. In the last couple years, we’ve given out 750 beds for students who have been sleeping on the floor in homes. It’s heartbreaking to see, but we’re grateful to help. Public education is the place to help meet a lot of needs, more than just education,” he said. “We have a great community who is willing to donate and help. Our mission is to engage the community to help provide resources that fuel success in the district and without community partners, a lot of what we do could never be possible. And it's good for kids to see the community cares about it too, and that helps shape how they see the world.”

Haynes said 800 snack packs were recently donated — and gone the next day.

“We don't want to create dependency on us for their meals. We want to fill a gap that exists. If kids don't have access to food over a weekend, we give them a weekend meal pack. During the day, those snack packs are super popular. It comes back to hungry kids during the day, and a learning curve. In the past, some kids were punished for bad behaviors without knowing why they were acting out. Now, our schools, teachers, administrators are asking questions, ‘What's going on? How's your morning been? Did you eat?’ Many of us access food when we need it, when we want it. Some of these kids don't have that luxury,” he said. 

Parent Liz Robinson, who has two students at West Jordan High, stopped by to donate granola bars and snacks.

“We heard about this service opportunity today and while I'm grateful we've never had to use a service like this, I'm thankful it is available for people who do need it, especially kids, because they have no control over when they are going to have their next meal,” she said. “We want to help make sure we're taking care of everybody in our community.”

Fisher agrees: “This will help a lot of kids who are hungry; who better to help?”