Volunteers assembled 1,500 weekend meal kits for donation to Bountiful Food Pantry
For Immediate Release
SANDY, Utah (Feb. 26, 2026) — As the Utah Royals FC unveiled their new jersey kit Thursday, players and volunteers from America First Credit Union assembled 1,500 weekend meal kits for Utah families facing hunger.
Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Utah. According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 Utah children face food insecurity, meaning they do not always know where their next meal will come from. For many students, school breakfast and lunch provide the most consistent meals of the week. When Friday afternoon arrives, that safety net can disappear.
Weekend meal kits help bridge that gap, providing dependable food options families can use immediately at home.
The meal kits, assembled for the Bountiful Food Pantry, include nutritious, easy-to prepare, nonperishable foods designed to supplement meals over the weekend during school breaks.
“Seeing the new kit is always exciting,” said Thayne Shaffer, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “It unites us as fans and gets us pumped for the season ahead. But after today, I hope hearing the word ‘kit’ or putting on a Royals FC jersey also reminds us of meal kits and all the opportunities we have to serve and all the good we can do. For too many kids in our community, hunger is never far away, but together we can make sure they always have enough to eat.”
America First Credit Union will again serve as the official jersey sponsor of the Utah Royals FC this season. By pairing the kit unveiling with hands-on service, the two organizations reinforced their shared commitment to the community, part of America First Credit Union’s broader work through its charitable foundation to support food access, housing stability and crisis response across the southwest.
Utah Royals FC President of Business Operations John Kimball credited America First Credit Union for consistently identifying and addressing needs in the community.
“Our players, coaches and staff have truly embraced the meaning behind ‘The Swarm’ when we remind fans that no single bee defines the hive, and that success is built though collective effort,” Kimball said. “This is an opportunity to give back to the community which supports them so greatly, and we pledge to continue finding ways to battle food insecurity and provide children all over Utah access to critical resources.”
Through its charitable foundation, AFCU regularly partners with community organizations to address hunger across the communities it serves.
“Food insecurity isn’t always visible, but it affects families in every community we serve,” said Amber Greenwell, director of the America First Credit Union Charitable Foundation. “Weekend meal kits are a simple, practical way to help close that gap and give children dependable food when school meals aren’t available.”
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ABOUT AMERICA FIRST CREDIT UNION
Now in its 86th year, America First Credit Union has grown from a single branch serving military personnel and federal employees into one of the strongest and most progressive credit unions in the country. The credit union is the largest in Utah and has 116 locations across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. It is also the fifth largest credit union in America with more than 1.5 million members, and the sixth largest in assets with more than $23 billion. America First Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative dedicated to building communities and helping members do more with their money. Learn more at americafirst.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Nellis (onsite)
America First Credit Union
801.725.8735 | dcnellis@americafirst.com