Kane County Care and Share and the Utah Food Bank have seen dramatic increases in need for food assistance from Kanab and Kane County residents in recent weeks.
Impacts of the Coronavirus on families in Kane County has expanded the need for assistance over the last three weeks. On April 2, 60 families received prepackage boxes of food from the Kane County Care and Share in a drive-through fashion. That’s over double the average number of 25-30 households, according to Craig Hansen, Director of the Care and Share for the county.
The Utah Food Bank gave approximately 110 families food on April 13, almost three times the normal amount of 40. This took place at the L.D.S. Church parking on Main and Center in Kanab.
Then on Thursday, April 16, 33 boxes were distributed to families. Hansen said that was less than what they had expected, likely because of the large amount of food that was distributed on Monday.
Food Needs Not the Only Issue
“Kane County Care and Share is designed to be a supplement food program and to provide up to 5 meals per person month.” According to their web page.
While the Utah food bank has been able to supply K.C.C.S. with the needed food the bigger problem has been storage.
“The biggest problem we have is storage. It’d be nice to have it all over one roof. Right now we’re using the old senior center, but that may end at the end of the year as the city has plans for the building.”
In addition Hansen says some items are always in short supply. “We can always use more canned soup, Jams and Jellies, condiments, and personal hygiene products. We normally have limited amounts of those items, but we need them now more than ever.”
If you are in need of food assistance the Care and Share is operating on the first and third Thursdays each month from 4 to 6 p.m., senior citizens and handicap only can use pantry from 2-4 p.m. at 56 W. 450 N. (next to the old Kanab Senior Center).
More families are in need of assistance after President Trump’s National Emergency declaration all but shuttered many tourist reliant businesses in Kanab area and visitation slowed. Governor Herbert’s “Stay home, stay safe” directive and closure of the National Parks added to that ceasing of visitation.
While the streets and supermarkets in Kanab appear fairly normal Kane County Hospital recently announced it was accepting unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the general public in preparation for a peak the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting will occur in Utah around May 2.
Donating to Kane County Care and Share
If you’re able to donate, please leave nonperishable food outside the entrance door of the old Senior Center at 56 W. 450 N. They can also be left the Best Friends Fitness Center located at 163 S. 100 E. in Kanab, where they will be properly sanitized and sorted for distribution. You can give a monetary donation for maximum impact. Please send those by mail to 172 E. 100 N. Kanab, UT 84741 or drop them off at the old Senior Center.
They can also be made online through the Kanab Chamber of Commerce, which is covering the cost of the transaction processing and is dividing the donations between the Care and Share and Kane County Assistance Program.
Kane County & Kanab COVID-19 Resources
The Independent recently published a guide to resources available to people in the Kane County and Kanab area during the coronavirus pandemic.
