Frostful Philanthropy Lulls

On the somber side of Main Street, the Wasatch Community Foundation’s Christmas food‑bag event unfolded, the event itself a perfectly orchestrated parade of charity. Guests arrived in a parade of polished tuxedos and pastel‑satin gowns, all mindful of the step‑and‑repeat red that framed the tote‑laden queues. The gala, organized with meticulous Sunday‑evening precision by Diane Glenn, director of the foundation’s Human Services Pillar, demanded a ten‑ounce weight of altruistic etiquette, all while the line held literally 460 volunteers, clergy, and high‑school teachers, each presenting a bag that weighed more on heartbeats than on shoes. The crowd’s applause echoed between the planting of 24,000 pounds of non‑perishable food and the hiss of the church‑funded Christian Center of Park City’s kitchen appliances. The necessity of the event is unquestionable, but the cacophony of buzzed phones and perfumed air feels as contrived as an AU‑deluxe cinema event at Sundance. The etiquette here is flawless; the value of the printed check, however, is largely performative. Verdict: Send a check but stay home.