A Thousand Meals, One Park City 

PARK CITY, Utah — On Saturday morning, Dec. 20, the first day of winter break, hundreds of volunteers filled the commons at Park City High School, working shoulder to shoulder to assemble and deliver roughly 1,000 meals to families across Summit and Wasatch counties.

Students, families, alumni and community members arrived early, forming assembly lines that moved with purpose and ease. In less than an hour, boxes were filled, sealed and stacked, each one destined for a household that had opted in to receive a holiday meal through the Operation Hope program.

The event marked the ninth year of the effort, which began with just a few dozen meals and has steadily grown alongside community support. This year’s milestone of 1,000 meals came amid rising food costs and increased need, making the turnout feel especially meaningful.

James Agnew, whose family helped launch the effort years ago, said the growth reflects something deeper than numbers.

“When you talk to the people receiving the meals, the gratitude is overwhelming,” Agnew said. “It’s not just the food. It’s knowing that someone cared enough to show up at their door. That human connection matters.”

Student leadership now plays a central role in organizing the day. The Especially for Athletes club, a Park City High School student group focused on service, coordinated volunteers and logistics alongside staff and community partners. Many alumni returned to help, continuing a tradition that began with small groups of teammates and friends and has grown into a multi-county effort.

Park City High School Principal Caleb Fine said the scene inside the gym captured the spirit of the community at its best.

“This is where Park City shines,” Fine said. “For a little while, none of the outside noise mattered. People weren’t thinking about differences or divisions. They were focused on helping their neighbors, and that says a lot about who we are.”

Meals were delivered to families identified through Operation Hope, senior centers, food banks and partner organizations serving Summit and Wasatch counties. About 50 meals were delivered to members of the Goshute Indian Tribe, with volunteers traveling several hours to ensure families received a warm holiday meal. Other recipients picked up meals locally or welcomed volunteers to their homes, allowing students and community members to see the impact of their service firsthand.

As the final boxes were loaded and delivery routes began, the commons slowly emptied, but the impact of the morning stretched far beyond the school walls. For many volunteers, the event marked the start of winter break not with rest, but with service, a reminder that in Park City, showing up for one another is a tradition that continues to grow.

“It really does take a village,” he said. “The students, the families, the donors, the volunteers, the community partners. When all of that comes together, it reminds you what kind of community this is, one that shows up for each other when it matters most.”