History | Care And Share

Our History

From our humble beginnings to our growth into a vital community resource, we have always remained dedicated to fighting hunger, homelessness, and poverty.

Founded in 1984 by a coalition of local churches from various denominations, Iron County Care and Share began with a simple but powerful mission: to combat hunger in our community. Starting as a food bank, the organization quickly expanded its services to include an emergency shelter program, reflecting our commitment to addressing the broader needs of those facing hardship.

Through partnerships with community organizations, neighboring counties, and state agencies, Iron County Care and Share is dedicated to helping homeless and low-income individuals and families work towards self-sufficiency. Our mission is to address the real and immediate needs of those living in poverty, providing essential resources to prevent households from falling into severe crisis and homelessness. Every day, we strive to offer a lifeline to the residents of Iron County, empowering them to build a more secure and hopeful future.

With 23 dedicated employees, Iron County Care and Share provides crucial support to our neighbors in need every day, often around the clock. Our small but determined team, together with hundreds of committed volunteers, works tirelessly to offer essential services and create pathways to stability for those in crisis.

We serve Beaver, Garfield, Iron and Kane Counties, a total of 18, 226 square miles in rural southwest Utah.

Iron County = 3,301 square miles
Garfield County = 5,208 square miles
Beaver County = 2,592 square miles
Kane County = 7, 125 square miles

In 2017 alone, Iron County Care and Share distributed over 600,000 pounds of food to nearly 1,000 families experiencing food insecurity. Our Emergency Temporary Shelter provided over 8,000 nights of safe shelter to more than 450 individuals, children, and families, along with daily meals, sack lunches, and case management services focused on achieving

self-sufficiency. Additionally, we offered drop-in day

services, including laundry, showers, meals, and

supportive assistance.