Provo's Community Action Food Bank Needs $100,000 by the End of October to Keep Its Doors Open

Update, Nov. 6, 2026: KUTV reported Nov. 5 that Community Action's IRS filings show a deficit of more than $1.4 million in 2024-25, after a surplus of nearly $1.6 million in 2021-22, and that its board was holding special meetings to decide whether the closure is permanent. See Utah County runs the Provo warming center after Community Action closes for the details and attributions.

Update, Nov. 2, 2026: Community Action Services and Food Bank closed its doors Nov. 1 "until further notice," KSL reported Oct. 31, while its board of trustees decides what happens next. The closure ends food, housing, shelter and education services for now and affects about 20,000 people who rely on them, according to KSL and Utah County Commissioner Skyler Beltran, who blamed years of financial and operational mismanagement. CEO Caitlin Rangel said, "Our greatest sadness is knowing that the need for these services has not gone away." Utah County has taken over running the winter warming center, which opened Nov. 1 at 2615 S. State Street in Provo and runs nightly from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through March 15 for adults 18 and older, KSL reported Nov. 1. The county is looking for overnight volunteers and plans to hand administration to another provider "in the coming days." No reopening date has been given. The Food & Care Coalition continues to provide three meals a day.

Update, Oct. 27, 2026: KSL reported Oct. 26 that Community Action is closing its Heber City pantry in November, laying off 15 employees and cutting Provo pantry hours by seven a week, which removes about 200 household appointment slots weekly. It said it now needs to raise $1.5 million by the end of 2026 to stay open in 2027, and that nearly $250,000 had been donated or pledged as of Monday morning. Heber-area residents can use the Christian Center of Park City (ccofpc.org). The details below were reported before this update.

Community Action Services and Food Bank, the Provo nonprofit that has served Utah County for more than 60 years, says it needs $100,000 by the end of October 2026 to keep its doors open. "We most immediately need $100,000 by the end of the month so that we can keep the doors open," chief impact officer Jessica Miller told KSL. Its longer-term goal is $1.5 million, to pay off debts and rebuild reserves.

Why it is short

The Daily Herald reported several causes: costs have risen since COVID, grant opportunities have shrunk, and community donations have not kept pace with need. Some grants require the organization to spend its own cash first and be reimbursed later, and it is still waiting on reimbursements from other grants. KSL reported that staff say the organization's reserves are exhausted, and that demand keeps rising, with more people asking for help for the first time.

The need is large. KSL reported that the food bank helped more than 24,000 people with food, shelter, housing help and education over the past year. The Daily Herald reported that 134 new families came to the food pantry in September, and the organization expects as many or more in October, with demand rising toward the holidays.

What is at risk

The food pantry and the rental assistance housing program, according to the Daily Herald. The warming centers that Community Action runs with Utah County are still scheduled to open on Nov. 1.

The organization has cut staff and is reducing expenses, and is asking private companies, local philanthropists and cities for support, the Herald reported. Its board also changed leadership: Tom Hogan is no longer CEO, chief operating officer Caitlin Rangel is interim CEO, and former BYU athletic director Val Hale and businessman Sheldon Miner joined the board.

How to help

• Give money: online at communityactionprovo.org/give-money/, once or monthly. "Ten dollars a month really does create a big difference," volunteer coordinator Kimber Behunin told KSL.
• Ask about other ways to give: call (801) 373-8200 or email casfb@casfb.org, including before mailing a check or dropping off food.
• Volunteer: our guide to food bank volunteering in Utah Valley covers Community Action and the other pantries. Wards and families looking for a project can also see service project ideas in Provo.

If you need food

The Provo pantry remains open with reduced hours, so appointments are tighter. Call (801) 373-8200 to confirm hours before you go; Heber-area residents can use the Christian Center of Park City after the Heber pantry closes. Our guide to food help in Utah County lists the other pantries, meal programs and benefits, and our homeless resources guide covers shelter and the winter warming centers.

Related on Provo.com

• Food help in Utah County
• Food bank volunteering in Utah Valley
• Homeless resources in Utah County
• Utah County runs the Provo warming center after Community Action closes
• Service project ideas in Provo