SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Utahns are setting their menus and getting ready for the big feast. But some are worried about what will be on the table, come Christmas time.
"That's part of the holidays, good food." Carolyn Graves Archuletta is a volunteer at the Utah Food bank. She and her husband like to lend a hand, especially at this time of the year.
"We can do without the fixings but it's real important for children. I’ve raised a few, and understand what its like to make a holiday for a child."
Thousands of Utah families may not be able to make a holiday meal this year. Jeanette Bott, from the Utah Food Bank says there are enough turkeys to get through Thanksgiving, but unlike years past, there will be no turkey leftovers for Christmas. "To go through the Christmas season we are in desperate need."
Right now, there aren't enough turkeys or hams to go around. The food bank had 18,000 turkeys requested for thanksgiving. "What we are seeing this year are folks who were donors last year are recipients this year, so we are really seeing some economic crunches still."
Bott says that forces tough choices at the Utah Food Bank which provides emergency food assistance all year long. "If we have to make a choice between buying something that serves one day on Christmas, or having inventory ninety days later, we have to go with the inventory."
So, help is still needed and Bott says if you can’t afford a turkey, think about something smaller.
"We need some holiday foods as well. So, canned pumpkin, the yams, green beans are really big, people ask for packaged gravy and instant potatoes."
Bott says anything your family enjoys for the holiday would be enjoyed by someone else.
To find out the many ways you can help, visit
www.utahfoodbank.org 
