Hunger is a quiet barrier to learning.
A student cannot focus on a math problem when they are wondering where their next meal will come from. For many families within the Murray City School District, food insecurity is a daily reality that often remains unseen by the broader community.
Currently, 35 percent of students in the district qualify for free or reduced lunch, and several Murray schools are designated as Title I. For many children, the meals they receive during the school day are the most reliable source of nutrition they have. Even more sobering, more than 100 students in Murray schools are identified as experiencing homelessness, navigating their education while facing housing instability, transportation challenges, and limited access to basic necessities.
Recognizing these needs, FFKR Architects and BHB Structural are once again partnering to host the 7th Annual Fill Our Truck Food Drive, an initiative designed to support Murray students and families.
The event will take place April 16 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at FFKR’s office (730 Pacific Ave, Salt Lake City). The goal is simple but powerful: fill a truck with food that will directly support Murray families.
Community members, businesses, and organizations are invited to donate shelf-stable food items that help stock weekend food kits and emergency family supplies distributed through Murray schools.
Requested items include
- spaghetti
- pasta sauce
- rice
- soup
- beans
- cereal
- granola bars
- instant oatmeal
- peanut butter
- crackers
- pancake mix and
- shelf-stable milk
Another especially helpful contribution is pre-assembled weekend food kits, which include two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners packaged together. These kits provide critical support for students who may otherwise face empty cupboards when school cafeterias close for the weekend.
This year’s event also introduces an initiative aimed at addressing another barrier to education: transportation. Through a partnership with the Bicycle Collective, the drive will also collect used bicycles that can be refurbished and given to students in need. The nonprofit organization repairs donated bikes and redistributes them to individuals who lack reliable transportation.
Last year, this partnership helped provide more than 40 refurbished bikes to students at Hillcrest Junior High School, where attendance had been impacted by transportation challenges. District social work teams are hopeful the program can expand this year so that students across multiple Murray schools can benefit.
For many students, a bicycle represents far more than recreation. It can be the key to getting to school consistently, participating in after-school activities, accessing jobs, and staying connected to their community. Organizers encourage individuals and businesses to participate in whatever way they can. Offices may organize friendly competitions to collect high-need items, while larger sponsors can support the effort through bulk donations.
For those who prefer another route, Target or Walmart gift cards are also welcome, allowing the district to purchase fresh food and household essentials for families facing immediate crises. Checks payable to the Murray Education Foundation may also be donated to support these programs.
Every bag of groceries, bicycle donation, or small financial gift helps remove one more obstacle standing between a student and their education.
