COMMUNITY    MATTERS
		Many Families Need Assistance this Holiday Season

For most of us, the anticipation of spending time with friends and family, exchanging gifts, and celebrating the holiday season brings inner warmth that defies the cold winter weather and comforts the soul. There are, however, many people who cannot find such comfort in the holidays, as they face the reality of not being able to provide for their basic needs, let alone fulfill the hopes of their children for that special gift.

Poverty manifests itself in many ways, including hunger, lack of affordable housing, and lack of affordable health insurance. All of these problems make life difficult for Utah’s low-income population, especially during the holidays. More than 323,180 Utahns live in “official” poverty, on incomes below $20,650 per year for a family of four, according to the Federal Poverty Level. Another 509,000 Utahns are struggling in “working poverty” with incomes that are below $41,300 per year for a family of four. (Read the full article)
 
 Deborah S. Bayle
 President and CEO