The longest government shutdown in history may be over, but the holidays and costly regular expenses are still creating a need for assistance, according to Valeria Cruz, the assistant manager of the Christian Center of Park City’s Heber City food pantry.  Cruz said she saw a major increase in need when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, ran short during the government shutdown in November. The Christian Center’s Heber City food pantry sees about 2,500 visitors per month. That increased in November, though Cruz did not want to estimate to what degree.  “There are some of those families who are still coming back in December. I saw a lot of new people. There are a lot more seniors who are now part of the pantry because of that,” Cruz said, referring to impacts from the government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits.  The holidays, Cruz said, are also creating a situation where families may be strapped for cash — and then some. The lack of snow has been a surprising issue for many community members as well, Cruz said. She has heard from pantry patrons who are missing seasonal work because of the unseasonably warm conditions. That brings another wave of individuals into the pantry for assistance.  Cruz said when it comes to misconceptions about food pantries, it’s easy to believe that there is no need for food pantry aid in Wasatch County because there are not many signs of homelessness in the area.  “If you’re in the middle of town and look around, you won’t see it, right? Like, we don’t see homeless people at the park. But there are a lot of difficulties going with the growth. Everything is more expensive. Taxes are greater,” she said. “There’s a lot going on in our town that makes us believe, from the surface, that there’s no need.” But Cruz said the need for aid became clear during the recent shutdown. That’s part of why the pantry is now open to families three times per month as opposed to the regular allotment of two visits per month — because of the public’s support during the pause in SNAP benefits.  “Thanks to the donations of everybody, we were able to serve our patrons three times in December, which is a big deal because this is a lot of people. We don’t take this lightly. We only do it if we know they’re going to take the same amounts as always. … But it was the public response that allowed us to increment our limits,” Cruz said. “So everybody’s getting a very nice Christmas and plenty of food.” The level of community support has been similar to what she saw during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She said she’s seen a larger response when there is a clear call for need in the public’s eye.  “I hear the news and how awful everything is, and then I come in and watch people partake in miracles for others,” Cruz said. “Like it just blew my mind on how amazing this community responded.” It helped some that the state pledged up to $4 million in assistance for the Utah Food Bank. Cruz said that bump in donations provided extra pallets of food like soup and tuna.  “That was the right call for the state to do because I’m thinking like, between that and what the community did, then we were able to meet the need,” Cruz said. “We didn’t have to pull back, we didn’t have to close, we didn’t have to pull stuff off the shelves.” Cruz said Heber City’s food bank is essential in Wasatch County. There’s a basic need to ensure the community is fed and nourished; when that is met, people experience less stress and improved interpersonal connections.  “I think it keeps people from doing things that might not be the right things to do in order to get food,” Cruz said, adding that it helps reduce crime in a roundabout way.  The pantry also provides seniors with a place to volunteer. Often, Cruz said, seniors will be the ones spending the most amount of time at the pantry because they are the ones who want company to talk with.  Then, there are the families that need assistance and parents looking for formula or diapers. It’s all of those individuals — and people who just need a bit of a boost each month — that Cruz is proud to serve. She said she hopes that the community will continue to provide as many donations and volunteer hours as possible through the new year.  “Those things matter at the end of the day for the community and the way they benefit in the future,” Cruz said. “That’s the cool part. Everybody pitching in and being a part of it.” The post Wasatch County food pantry receives overwhelming support this holiday season appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less