USU Athletes Help Alta Bank, Stokes Trucking and Others in Effort to Fight Community Hunger

Utah State University assisted Alta Bank and Stokes Trucking in sorting about 30,000 pounds of donated food to the Cache Community Food Pantry.

"I don't know that there is a better feeling than giving back to your community," said Alta Bank's Katie Hansen. "But this year especially too, knowing that our community needed it more than ever, and that as friends and neighbors and community members, we stepped up to hopefully meet the need."

The donation marks the culmination of Alta Bank's annual Stuff the Truck event, that this year saw USU student-athletes, vice president and director of athletics Cameron Walker and newly-minted USU President Brad L. Mortensen help unload and sort the food.

"It was just exciting to see folks come out and gather up 30,000 pounds of food for those in need, and to have the Aggies out here putting it all together so it's accessible — I just wanted to be a part of it," President Mortensen added about joining the efforts on his first day.

The partnership between Aggie Athletics and the community sought Thanksgiving related items — potatoes, canned corn, and cranberry sauce — though things like cereal, canned fruit, and others were more than welcome.

Community donations were accepted at all Cache Valley Alta Bank locations, from Logan to Preston, Idaho, and as well at the Fan Fast prior to Saturday’s USU Football game against Nevada. This year saw large donations from local farmers and companies — among which were Schreiber Foods, Gossner Foods, Lee’s Marketplace, Onions 52, Central Milling, and others — which Stokes Trucking went around and collected.