A Piece of History
page 9 December 3, 2021 | Vol. 2 Iss. 49
$1.50
SHE’S LEADING THE WAY AT THE BOUNTIFUL FOOD PANTRY By Tom Haraldsen tom.h@davisjournal.com
REBEKAH ANDERSON oversees seven staff members and more than 200 volunteers at the Bountiful Food Pantry.
Photo by Tom Haraldsen
BOUNTIFUL—Rebekah Anderson worked in the retail industry for nearly 20 years, including some of the 10 years she lived in Houston, Texas. However, after moving back to her native Utah and returning to the workforce, she was ready for something different. “I didn’t want to return to retail, but I had a lot of experience running a warehouse,” she said. “So when the Director of Operations position came open last January at the Bountiful Food Pantry, I applied and got the job, and it was the absolute best decision I could have made.” Now, she is tasked with something she’s even more thrilled about. Anderson was named the new Executive Director of the pantry in October. She feels she has a chance to make an “even larger impact on the community. I’m very excited about the opportunity to help make a difference in people’s lives.” The Pantry’s success is well documented. Last year, it gave out over 2 million pounds of food, about 1.7 million meals, to more than 11,000 households. Its legendary “pantry packs” which are distributed to students in need are going out at a rate of 3,300 a week, up from 2,700 last year. Those packs help feed many children and teenagers in Davis County who don’t have food to eat on weekends. The work of the Pantry covers all of Davis County and parts of north Salt Lake County. Anderson oversees a small paid staff of seven and more than
CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE The Bountiful Food Pantry is collecting the following items for its holiday distribution on Saturday, Dec. 18: • Frozen Ham • Frozen pies • Mashed potatoes • Gravy packets • Canned corn • Canned green beans • Candy Canes • Chocolate oranges • Hot chocolate packets Items can be donated at the Pantry located at 480 East 150 North in Bountiful. Visit the website at https://bountifulfoodpantry.org/ to learn more. 200 volunteers, “all of whom are critically important to our mission,” she said. There has been a lot of transition for the Pantry team, as Anderson is the fourth ED it has had in the past two years. Long-time director Lorna Kochi retired and two other directors left after short stints at the Pantry. Anderson praised her team members who’ve “kept things running and helped maintain a positive environment. Our volunteers have been spectacular. My plan is to be here a long time and give them some consistency.” Besides overseeing the Pantry, she plans to do a lot of community outreach, working to determine the needs of the county. Please see PANTRY: pg. 7