Immediate funding shortfall imperils local food assistance
Community Action Services & Food Bank, a longstanding nonprofit serving Provo and surrounding communities, is appealing to local residents and businesses for immediate help after reporting a sharp rise in demand and shrinking funding.
The organization says it needs $100,000 by the end of the month to maintain current operations and keep its distribution sites open. Beyond that, leaders estimate they need $1.5 million to put the agency back on a sustainable financial path.
Jessica Miller, the food bank’s chief impact officer, said the nonprofit has connected more than 24,000 people with services over the last year — including food, shelter referrals, housing assistance and education programs — and has seen steadily increasing need for about five years.
"For probably about the last five years, we've seen an increase in community need," Miller said. "Also, over that same time period, there's been (a) stricter funding environment; there's less money."
Local staff and volunteers describe growing pressure
Volunteer coordinator Kimber Behunin, who previously relied on services from the organization, described the personal toll when families first seek help and the strain on volunteers and staff as visits rise.
"It can be humbling," Behunin said. "It's kind of embarrassing for some people, because if you've always been able to take care of your family and now, because of circumstances, whatever, they are not being able to do that — It's hard. It's a hard thing to do."
Behunin and Miller emphasized that contributions of any size can make a difference. Miller said the nonprofit has sustained decades of service — more than 60 years — but now faces a tighter funding environment even as more people seek assistance for the first time.
What Provo residents can do now
Leaders at Community Action Services & Food Bank are asking for immediate financial donations and continued community support to meet both short-term operating needs and longer-term sustainability goals.
- Immediate priority: raise $100,000 by month-end to avoid service reductions.
- Long-term goal: secure $1.5 million to stabilize operations and build resilience against future demand spikes.
- Everyday impact: monthly donations and small one-time gifts both help — staff note even $10 per month meaningfully contributes.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| People served in past year | 24,000 |
| Immediate funding needed | $100,000 |
| Estimated sustainable funding gap | $1.5 million |
Policy and community implications for Provo
The food bank’s appeal highlights broader local challenges: economic stress on households, limits in public and private support streams, and the role of charitable organizations as a safety net. For Provo policymakers and service providers, the situation underscores a few policy considerations:
- Coordination between city services, state programs and nonprofits to ensure benefits and emergency aid reach newly vulnerable residents.
- Exploration of funding models that reduce volatility for frontline service providers, including multi-year grants and public–private partnerships.
- Support for volunteer recruitment and retention as demand for assistance continues to outpace volunteer capacity in some areas.
Community Action Services & Food Bank has been a fixture in the area for decades, and its leaders said they hope the local community will respond quickly to keep essential services operating. The organization accepts donations online and encourages sustained community engagement, noting small recurring gifts can help close funding gaps.
As Provo navigates this period of increased need, the food bank’s appeal is a reminder that local nonprofit capacity closely ties to the city’s overall social safety net. The coming weeks will show whether immediate community support can bridge the shortfall and whether broader funding strategies will be prioritized to prevent recurrent crises for organizations that serve the county’s most vulnerable residents.
