Early on Jan. 10, a tractor trailer pulled into the United Way–Gemma E. Moran Food Bank. Vehicles of all kinds regularly come and go, but this truck travelled more than 2,000 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, packed with 41,647 pounds of non-perishable food.

The truck originated at Deseret Industries, the charitable arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Donated foods included beef chunks, beef stew, black beans, Great Northern beans, green beans, soup, pancake mix, flour, and assorted pasta. This food has been produced on church-owned ranches and farms with all-volunteer labor by church members whose hard work and loving service improves lives of those they’ll never meet.

Ledyard resident Elder Richard Hutchins, who arranged the substantial donation, has stewardship responsibilities for the church in New England.

Amidst a mountain of boxes of food, Hutchins said the donation is part of his church’s desire to assist those in need. “The description of Christ in the New Testament of one who ‘went about doing good’ is an example we seek to emulate in all that we do,” he said. “Many of us have worked closely over the years to support various efforts of the Gemma Moran Food Bank and we are thrilled to be able to provide this shipment of over 40,000 pounds of food to aid the greater New London area.”

One in six children in Southeastern Connecticut is food insecure, but the Food Bank supplies 76 distribution sites including food pantries, shelters, child care centers, community meal sites, senior aid organizations and 10 monthly Mobil Food Pantries, all at no cost to those in need.

Local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regularly support the food bank with donations and by volunteering because they don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry.

For information, visit churchofjesusshrist.org.

Elizabeth Saede lives in Stonington.

Kindness in Real Life is a regular feature in The Times. To submit, email times@theday.com.