Mormon church to increase food donations to charities

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church is planning to increase food donations to community charities by more than 20 million pounds annually over the next several years.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the changes to its welfare operations in a Thursday statement.

President Bishop Gerald Causse says in the statement that beginning next year, the church will convert a portion of its raw wheat supplies into finished goods and make them available for storehouses and pantries through the country.

The church's online store already sells items such as fruit, vegetables, beans, rice and non-fat dried milk.

New products that will be made through the raw wheat production include pasta, pancake mix, flour and other finished goods.

People do not need to be members of the church to purchase items.