“We decided to up the game!” Ken Garff Automotive triples down on annual Thanksgiving donation
By Gregory House, Public affairs specialist
Across the Wasatch Front, volunteers started their day at three locations of the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VASLCHCS) to hand out free meals at the 6th annual Drive Out Hunger event, giving Veterans a Thanksgiving dinner they may not have been able to afford.
Ken Garff Automotive partnered with VA Salt Lake City’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) to make the event possible. Volunteers handed out meals with care and shared moments of connection with each recipient, thanking them for their service. Many Veterans expressed gratitude, their smiles echoing the sentiment that no one would go without this Thanksgiving. Each service member and Veteran who attended this year received a turkey, frozen pie, and additional dry and canned goods.
“This helps so many people financially with prices being so high right now,” said Kat Jackson, a Navy Veteran, who, with her Marine Corps Veteran husband, Lon, started her day at 5 AM to get in line for this food. “I just love that they’re doing this.”
Last year, Ken Garff Automotive and VASLCHCS handed out 500 meals at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City. This year, their donation was much larger and delivered to a much wider audience.
“When we surveyed our employees, Veterans and military families are who they wanted to give back to,” said Kate Terry, the senior employee experience manager at Ken Garff Automotive. “This event has been so well-received that this year we decided to up the game and so, in Utah, we’ll be donating over 1500 meals today.”
1000 meals were donated in Salt Lake City, 500 at the Orem VA Clinic, and 250 at the Ogden VA Clinic, with any left-over items being donated to the food hub at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
“This is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Sarah Hallen, the Chief CDCE at VASLCHCS. “Seeing this event succeed every year and grow so much in response to that just means that there will be fewer empty tables this holiday season, and I am so incredible thankful for that.”
Drive Out Hunger is a tradition, not only for Ken Garff Automotive, but for some of the volunteers who help with traffic mitigation and passing out donations.
“Everybody is just delighted; I don’t think anyone came through the line and didn’t say thank you,” said Bob Campbell, and Army Veteran who has volunteered every year of Drive Out Hunger of since it started. He continued with a smile: “I will be volunteering at this event for as long as I can stay upright!”
Other volunteers have made community service a family affair. Corey Wigginton, a foreman with Ken Garff Automotive, brought his children, 9-year-old Linda and 7-year-old Matthew, to help pass out donations.
“There are people who need help, and I want my kids to see that it is okay to give them the help they need,” said Wigginton. “It is okay to be there for others, even if we are busy and have a lot going on.”
You can help make a difference this holiday season. Consider donating to a local food bank or organization that serves those in need.
If you are interested in volunteering with or donating to VASLCHCS, you can call Voluntary Service at