LOGAN — Utah State University and Alta Bank donated approximately 30,000 pounds of food to the Cache Community Food Pantry on Monday, marking the culmination of the annual “Stuff the Truck” drive.
Newly named USU President Brad Mortensen spent a part of his first day on the job helping student-athletes unload two semi-trailers of donated food.
“Sometimes the first day on the job is a little slow and you’re getting access to things,” said Mortensen. “So, there was a no better way to spend it by sorting potatoes with the Aggie Tennis Team.”
The large donation was made possible through a community partnership that collected non-perishable goods, including items for Thanksgiving dinners, at all Cache Valley Alta Bank locations and during the USU Football Fan Fest event.
USU Vice President of Athletics Cameron Walker also helped unload and sort food with Aggie athletes.
“Anytime you get a chance to give back to the community that is there rooting you on, helping you win, creating a home-field advantage, you get a chance to give back,” explained Walker. “It is just who our student-athletes are. They are just incredible young people who want to make a difference. They want to make a difference in completions, but they also want to make a difference in the classroom and they also want to make a difference in the community.”
The food was donated at a crucial time when the food pantry is seeing a surge in families needing help, partially due to the federal government shutdown. It also came as the holiday season approaches.
Alta Bank Retail Area Manager Katie Hansen helped organize this year’s event with the help of USU and Stokes Trucking. She said the success was due to a huge outpouring of support from the community.
“I don’t know if there is a better feeling than giving back to your community but this year especially too, knowing that our community needed us more than ever,” stated Hansen. “As friends, neighbors, and community members, we stepped up and hopefully helped meet the need.”
The effort was bolstered by significant donations from local farmers and companies, including Schreiber Foods, Gossner Foods, Lee’s Marketplace, Onions 52, and Central Milling.