Mission Statement 

The mission of the Bountiful Community Food Pantry is to relieve hunger and increase self-sufficiency of individuals in need living in Davis County, Utah. Through providing supplemental food, our first priority, we gain an understanding of the obstacles that must be addressed to alleviate hunger and associated unmet needs; thus, out of necessity, our mission has evolved to also include assisting individuals take the next steps towards self-sufficiency to create long-term change. We work collaboratively with the individuals in need and an expanding network of like-minded organizations to leverage limited resources and to provide help where it is needed most, to empower individuals and collectively affect community level change. The Bountiful Community Food Pantry is an equal opportunity provider.

Background and History

The BCFP has been providing supplemental food to low income families in south Davis County, Utah for over 40 years. We began operating in the 1970s out of a small closet. Driven by need, we have expanded to now serve all of Davis County and operate a 7,500 square foot warehouse. We receive and collect donated food from local grocery stores, the Utah Food Bank, local food producers and private individuals. We sort, organize, store and distribute approximately 2,000,000 pounds of food, or roughly 1,290,000 meals, each year, without charge, to the low income families living in Davis County. In FY18, our marketplace served nearly 4400 individuals during a total of approximately 27,300 visits.

In providing supplemental food to our clients and learning about their individual needs, we have found that most face numerous obstacles and that providing supplemental food is not enough to alleviate their suffering and help them move towards greater self-sufficiency. In our quest to help address these issues, we found that there are existing programs and resources available but they were not being fully utilized due to lack of accessibility, lack of awareness of the programs, or inability to navigate the multiple facets of the enrollment process. Our client services begin with an enhanced client intake process to identify any special needs or circumstances, and try to assist in meeting those needs by referrals to assistance programs and partnering with other aid organizations wherever possible as we focus on providing immediate hunger relief. We have arranged shelter for women threatened with domestic violence; assisted with enrollment in Davis Technical College; partnered with Davis Technical College and area dental professionals to assist with meeting urgent dental needs; helped with transportation needs; and arranged for affordable diabetes medication – quite probably saving an individual’s life.

We have partnered with Davis School District in creating the childhood No Hunger Zone. No child deserves to go hungry yet each night in Utah, 1 in 5 children are at risk of going to bed hungry. We started with our Pantry Packs program aimed at addressing child hunger through which we now serve 47 schools and provide weekend food assistance to more than 2000 children each week. Even with this growth, we still have schools on the waiting list. We provide additional support to the schools through Principal's Pantry supplies, Emergency Food Boxes, Pantry vouchers, and limited school pantry assistance.

We know that holidays are meant to be particularly special times for families but for families in need, they can be filled with anxiety. With generous community support, we are able to provide special holiday meals to our clients and Christmas Breakfasts through the Pantry Packs Program. In 2018 we were able to brighten Christmas through special gifts for 550 needy children through our Sub-for-Santa program.

We strive to build community both through providing much needed support to individuals and families and through providing service opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations. Just a few such opportunities include Pantry Teens, Pantry Family Night, and school and neighborhood food drives.

Although we have grown substantially, we continue to be a volunteer-based organization with over 170 regular volunteers and hundreds of additional volunteers. Operations are overseen by an experienced and capable board of directors and management team. Our case manager works with clients, other service organizations, advocates, and agencies to help meet individuals’ immediate needs and help them begin their journey to self-sufficiency.

We increasingly collaborate with many associated organizations and key advocates so that we may better complement each other’s efforts in meeting community needs and collectively promote community level change. BCFP has received Utah Food Bank awards for Model Food Pantry, Case Management and Outreach. Additionally, our Executive Director Lorna Koci was recently honored with the Patriotism and Service Award by the Utah 2nd Congressional District and recognized as one of Utah's Top 50 Innovators and Davis County's Women of Influence.

Systems are in place to ensure sound fiscal management and compliance with all regulations.

BCFP gained 501(c)3 status in 2004 and is formally recognized by the IRS as a non-profit charitable organization under the name Bountiful Community Food Pantry.

Where Our Food and Funding Comes From

Between food drives and direct donations, individuals contribute approximately 25% of the food we distribute and the vast majority of the non-perishable food including the Pantry Packs aimed at alleviating child hunger over the weekends. Through our Grocery Rescue partners we saved over 1,000,000 pounds of perishable food last year that would have otherwise gone to waste. Local farms and gardeners donate excess fresh produce throughout the harvest months. Utah Food Bank provides produce and USDA food. With these food donations along with milk purchased at a discount, we are able to provide a broad spectrum of foods enough for nearly 1.3 million meals.

Nearly half of the funding that supports pantry operations comes from individual contributions. State and federal grants vary from year to year based on government budgets and specific needs of the pantry. These grants have been significant in providing commercial refrigerators, freezers, racking, an emergency generator, three refrigerated trucks and such. Additionally, corporations, private entities and other charities provide much needed funds which are often designated for specific purposes such as case management, hygiene items, or one of our programs like Pantry Packs or Pantry Smiles. Through the partnerships we’ve developed and with our volunteer-based organization, we’re able to put nearly every donated dollar directly to providing food to the needy and providing desperately needed client assistance.

Board of Directors

• Alisa Knowlton, MD, Chair
• Rob Berman, Vice Chair
• Teresa Crockett, Secretary
• Riley Astill, Treasurer
• Lorna Koci, Executive Director
• Lloyd Allen, Attorney
• Russell Bernard
• Hall Blankenship
• Ed Fisher
• Brian Hunt
• Craige Olson, DDS
• Duane Orchard, DDS
• David Pearson
• Kim Pugmire
• Chuck Swallow
• Richard Watson
• Wendell Wild

Staff

• Executive Director – Lorna Koci
• Food Operations Director – Dustin Richins
• Client Services Manager – Alisa Allred Mercer
• Warehouse Assistant – Eric Gubler
• Evening and Saturday Client Services Supervisor – Carli Butterfield
• Saturday Warehouse Supervisor – Shauna Devenport
• Pantry Smiles Coordinator (through DTC) – Elaine Bennion

Our Partners

Awards and Recognition

• Partnership Award - Davis County, Utah State University Extension; 2018
• Patriotism and Service Award (Executive Director), Utah 2nd Congressional District; 2017
• Executive Director recognized as one of Utah's Top 50 Innovators and Davis County's Women of Influence; 2016
• Recognized for our contribution to our community, area LDS Church leaders; 2015
• Community Outreach Award, Utah Food Bank; 2012
• Case Management Award, Utah Food Bank; 2011
• Model Food Pantry Award, Utah Food Bank; 2010