New Community Pantry Aims to Increase Food Access in Utah Valley

Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry Relocates to Expand Services in Spanish Fork

Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry, a vital support system for individuals and families facing food insecurity in Utah County, has officially relocated to a larger facility across the street from its previous site. This transition, undertaken last week, underscores the organization’s commitment to enhancing its services as demand for food assistance continues to grow. The new address is 50 E. 100 North in Spanish Fork.

Wendy Osborne, the founder of Tabitha’s Way, articulated the significance of the new location. “The new facility is significantly larger, increasing our capacity, both in the amount of food it can hold and the number of families we can serve,” Osborne stated. The expanded warehouse space, which is approximately three times the size of the former facility, is expected to improve operational efficiency and bolster food safety standards. This enhancement is critical as the pantry plans to accommodate an increasing volume of fresh produce, dairy, and meats—nutritional staples often out of reach for financially strained families.

The strategic choice of the new location, which was formerly a grocery store, allows for a seamless operational transition. With facilities analogous to a grocery store already in place, the remodeling of the building minimized costs compared to constructing a completely new structure. This thoughtful planning enables the pantry to maintain financial resources for its core mission.

Tabitha’s Way operates two additional locations in Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs, collectively serving an astonishing average of 6,000 individuals per month from the Spanish Fork facility alone. The pantry is designed to provide temporary food assistance; notably, about 75% of clients seek help for four months or less. However, as one segment of the population recovers, another increasingly finds itself in need.

Osborne noted that the organization has experienced a consistent rise in demand for assistance, with a 30% annual increase over the past four years. Despite many households seeing improvements in their earnings, the escalating costs of essential needs and housing have left many families in precarious financial situations. A recent survey revealed that over half of the families served are spending more than 50% of their income on housing expenses.

“Given the surge in our county’s population and these financial pressures, we recognized the urgent need for a larger facility to accommodate current demands and growth,” stated Osborne.

Community engagement plays a crucial role in supporting Tabitha’s Way. As needs escalate, so too do the pantry’s operational expenses. Osborne emphasized that the organization efficiently provides a complete meal for approximately [or_text model=”openai/gpt-4o-mini” prompt=”Rewrite this article in the professional, objective style of top newspapers, expand to at least 350 words adding value and context to the content, avoid plagiarism and make it SEO compliant:

Everyone deserves a full table. That’s the belief of those who work to put food on the tables of families and individuals in Utah County. For 15 years, Tabitha’s Way Food Pantry in Spanish Fork has been helping people with a basic need — food. Now, the facility has moved across the street from its previous location so it can better meet the needs of the growing number of people seeking help. The new pantry is located at 50 E. 100 North.

“The new facility is significantly larger, increasing our capacity, both in the amount of food it can hold but also the number of families we can serve,” said Wendy Osborne, founder of Tabitha’s Way. “In our new location, the warehouse is three times the size and it’s attached. This will increase our operational efficiency and food safety.”

Additionally, with the larger warehouse space, larger coolers were able to be installed, increasing the ability to receive more fresh foods like dairy, produce and meats. These foods are important because they are nutritionally dense and often cost-prohibitive for people who are struggling financially.

The pantry’s new location was formerly a grocery store. Because the pantry’s operations are nearly identical to a grocery store, it was a good fit, and after some updating was completed, the pantry was able to make the move. Osborne said that by purchasing and remodeling the building, a lot of expenses were avoided compared to the cost of constructing a new building.

Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry has two other locations in Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs. The Spanish Fork pantry provides food to an average of 6,000 individuals every month.

The mission of Tabitha’s Way is to provide temporary food assistance to those in need. In fact, 75% of the clients get assistance for just four months or less.

However, as some people get back on their feet and need less help, others begin to struggle. “Our food pantries have seen a consistent increase in the number of families needing food assistance. On average, we have seen a 30% increase each year for the last four consecutive years,” Osborne said.

Although most households are earning more than they were five years ago, the cost for basic needs and housing have outpaced the incomes of many families living in Utah County, according to Osborne.

“For example, we did an 18-month survey and discovered that 56% of the families we serve are paying 50% or more of their monthly income towards housing,” she said. “These factors, combined with the surge in population in our county, have had a significant impact on our pantries. We needed a larger facility to accommodate current demands and future growth.”

So, how can the rest of us help with this important work? Currently, the pantry’s greatest needs are volunteers and funds. “We need more helping hands to sort, stock and serve the families that come to our pantry. Additionally, as the demand for assistance grows, so have our expenses. Although we are highly efficient and can provide a complete meal for approximately 20 cents, we are serving more meals than ever before — over 3.1 million to be exact,” Osborne said.

Individuals or companies wanting to help can sign up to volunteer or donate on the Tabitha’s Way website at tabithasway.org. More information can also be found on the Tabitha’s Way Facebook pages.

“].20; however, demand has surged, leading to the distribution of over 3.1 million meals to date.

Individuals and corporations who wish to support this essential service can volunteer or donate via Tabitha’s Way’s website at tabithasway.org. Additional details are also available on the pantry’s Facebook page, where community members can learn more about how to contribute to this valuable cause.