Progress continues on new food pantry while more funds are needed

Construction is going on daily on the new Cache Community Food Pantry and executive director Matt Whittaker says hopefully it can be completed before winter. But he says that depends on whether or not enough money comes in to get the job done.

Costs are being trimmed wherever possible and Whittaker says it looks like the office area won’t be finished by October.

“We’ve got some big commitments from some foundations that we have appealed to,” Whittaker says. “Hopefully they come in with that so we can get that done.”

Whittaker says while those commitments have been tremendously helpful, more money is needed to fully complete the project.

“But even if what they’ve committed to comes in it will still leave us a little bit shy. So we’re still going to do some campaigns publicly to raise awareness that we still need financial support to get it finished.”

Wittaker says he is going to ask for help now from not only Cache County but also the other counties the food pantry serves: Rich, Box Elder and Franklin.

The food pantry remains open to help those people in need. Whittaker says, fortunately, food supplies are able to meet the demand so far.

“Our clientele’s not jumping up by leaps and bounds,” he explains. “We’ve kind of plateaued a little bit. It’s still higher than we’re used to but we’re not seeing the huge increases like we used to. It comes in spurts.”

Whittaker says most of the families come in for food because the breadwinner has lost a job or hours have been reduced. He says the Cache County Food Pantry has been able to extend help beyond Cache into Franklin County and sometimes into Rich and Box Elder counties as well.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!