Every day, someone walks into the Food and Care Coalition with nowhere else to go. They may be hungry. They may have slept outside. They may be escaping abuse. They may be battling illness, addiction, or job loss.
What they find inside, however, is more than a meal. They find people who show up — daily. They find a culture of caring.
In a publication called Serve Daily, it seems fitting to highlight an organization that has been doing exactly that since 1988.
For nearly four decades, the Food and Care Coalition has served individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness in Utah County — every single day. Because of a caring community, those who enter will find dignity, stability, and hope.
More Than a Meal
The Coalition is perhaps best known for its meals — and for good reason.
Seven days a week, 365 days a year, we serve nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. In 2025 alone, more than 109,000 meals were provided — a record year. Recently, we surpassed an extraordinary milestone: our 3 millionth meal served.
But food is only the beginning.
Hunger is rarely the only challenge someone faces. It is often accompanied by physical or mental health issues, trauma, unemployment, or the absence of stable housing. Addressing one need without the others rarely creates lasting change.
That is why the Coalition operates a fully integrated, onsite model of care — meeting immediate needs while building a pathway toward self-sufficiency.
Dignity in the Details
Something as simple as a shower can change the trajectory of a life.
In 2025 alone:
• Over 50,000 showers were provided
• More than 11,000 loads of laundry were completed
• Over $250,000 in essential items were distributed — Sleeping bags, coats, shoes, socks, and hygiene essentials provide protection from the elements and restore confidence.
One client shared their experience serving at the Coalition.
“Many cannot relate to being homeless. I still had desire and hope for a better life. The Coalition gave me the courage to begin that path.”
These moments may seem small from the outside, but for someone preparing for a job interview or trying to rebuild their life, they are transformative.
Health Care Through Partnership
Health challenges are among the greatest barriers to stability.
Through collaboration with Mountainlands Community Health Center and Wasatch Behavioral Health, medical, dental, and mental health services are provided onsite — at no cost to clients.
Education and life-skills development are also essential to long-term change. In our onsite partnership with My Story Matters, clients participate in programs that build resilience, literacy, confidence, and personal accountability.
This collaborative model removes barriers and surrounds individuals with coordinated support — not isolated services.
When someone can treat an infection, repair a broken tooth, receive counseling, or gain critical life skills, the path forward becomes clearer — and stability becomes possible.
Housing: From Crisis to Community
Food and healthcare address immediate needs. Housing creates lasting change.
The Coalition has 26 transitional housing units for men and 12 for women, providing structure and accountability as residents work toward independence.
In 2022, a bold vision became reality with the opening of Candlelight Villas, a 72-unit permanent supportive housing community located on our campus.
Each resident has a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment — gaining consistency and community.
Designed around a “pocket neighborhood” concept, Candlelight Villas fosters connection through shared green spaces and gathering areas. Residents rebuild not only housing security, but relationships and belonging.
In 2025, more than 36,000 bed nights were provided across our housing programs — representing safety, stability, and the opportunity to rebuild.
Powered by Community
All of this is accomplished by just eight full-time and twenty part-time employees.
The true engine behind the Coalition is community involvement.
More than 7,000 volunteers donate approximately 50,000 hours of service each year.
Importantly, less than 10% of our funding comes from government sources. The rest is provided by private donors — individuals, businesses, and community partners who believe in helping neighbors in need.
We are good stewards of every donation. The Coalition has no debt, and each dollar goes directly to sustaining our mission of alleviating poverty and homelessness.
“Like many in our community who first learn of the prevalence of homelessness in Utah County, we were shocked — and then moved,” one donor shared. “We couldn’t turn our hearts away.”
The Food and Care Coalition does not operate alone; it reflects a county filled with people who believe in making a difference.
Why It Matters
Homelessness and poverty are complex issues. They cannot be solved with a single meal, a single service or a single act of kindness. But they can be addressed — practically, persistently, and collaboratively.
Every day at the Coalition, we witness transformation:
A man securing employment after months of instability
A woman moving from crisis into safe housing
A resident reconnecting with family
A guest receiving medical care that prevents hospitalization
Progress is often incremental — but it is real. It happens because people choose to give and to serve.
An Invitation to Serve Daily
If you are reading Serve Daily, you likely already believe that service strengthens individuals and communities and is rewarding to the giver at the same time.
We invite you to come and see and be inspired by what daily service looks like at the Food and Care Coalition.
You can:
Serve a meal with your family, friends, church, or business
Tour our campus and experience our integrated model firsthand
Donate essential items or organize a supply drive
Contribute financially to sustain our daily operations
Whether you give time, resources, or financial support, you become part of our Culture of Caring that has been serving Utah County since 1988.
For nearly four decades, the Food and Care Coalition has been serving daily. With your partnership, we will continue — meeting needs, restoring dignity, and building pathways toward stability and hope.
We need you. Your community needs you. Make a difference — daily.
The Food and Care Coalition is located at 299 East 900 South in Provo. For more information, go to foodandcare.org, call 801-373-1825 or email at volunteer@foodcare.org.
