We’re officially five years old!
In 2019, USANA Kids Eat launched its mission to combat childhood hunger in northern Utah. This initiative combined two grassroots efforts: Lynda Brown’s “Kids Eat Utah,” a basement operation packing weekend food bags for over 30 schools and clubs in the southern valley, and Michelle Benedict’s “The Kids Next Door,” a community project providing meals during school breaks to over 30 schools in the northern valley. Together, they have grown into a unified program serving thousands of children across the Wasatch Front.
But to celebrate how far we’ve come as an organization, let’s reflect on our humble beginnings.
Community members supporting local kids
Lynda’s journey began in 2015 when she learned of children taking extra snacks home because they had no food for the weekend. She started packing backpacks filled with enough meals to last through Sunday, covering the cost herself and working with local organizations to distribute them.
Similarly, Michelle’s initiative, rooted in teaching her children about giving back, evolved from 2009 into a robust community effort, mobilizing volunteers to prepare and deliver food bags to local schools in a model that is now known as our Holiday Bag Project.
In 2019, these two initiatives merged under the USANA Foundation, allowing the program to scale and grow with Utah’s food insecurity population.
With our Holiday Bag Project and Weekend Bag Program, USANA Kids Eat now serves 84 schools in five school districts, delivering over 444,000 meals annually to nearly 6,000 children. Each weekend, children take home food bags containing non-perishable, easy-to-prepare meals, ensuring they have the nutrition needed to focus on school and enjoy their childhood.
We’ve provided over 2.5 million meals since our official founding five years ago!
We provide more than food
The program’s reach extends beyond food bags. Initiatives like the Holiday Bag Project ensure children have access to meals during long winter breaks. This effort is particularly impactful during a time when families often face additional financial pressures.
The statistics are sobering: one in six Utah children experiences hunger daily. This means that 143,140 out of the 414,510 people in Utah facing hunger are children. USANA Kids Eat exists to bridge this gap, empowering children with the nourishment they need to learn, play, and thrive.
The heart of the program lies in its community. Volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors have been instrumental in this growth. From individuals who donate time and money to companies hosting packing events, the program thrives on collective effort.
The impact is measured in meals and stories of hope and resilience. Families no longer have to choose between essentials like gas for commuting and food for the table. Students struggling with hunger can focus on their education, participate in extracurricular activities, and dream big.
As USANA Kids Eat celebrates five years, we reflect on our origins and growth. From a handful of backpacks packed in a basement to a dedicated warehouse buzzing with volunteers, the journey has been remarkable.
But the work is far from over. Hunger remains a pressing issue, and USANA Kids Eat is committed to expanding its reach and impact. Will you help us?
Join us as we continue to serve!
Join the fight against childhood hunger by volunteering your time or becoming a donor. Every contribution—whether it’s packing food bags, supporting the Holiday Bag Project, or making a monthly donation—makes a difference in the lives of children in need in the next five years and beyond.
Together, we can build a future where no child goes hungry.
For more information on how to get involved, visit USANA Kids Eat.
