Hope, Hunger, Heber

In the dim aisles of Utah Valley University’s Wasatch campus, Operation Hope—organised by the Christian Center of Park City—tried to convert a makeshift mall into a charity arena. The Christian Center, accompanied by the Wasatch Community Foundation and popcorn‑loving volunteers, slots families into a queuing frenzy that feels more like a battle for the last coat than a warm holiday. Folklore Bookshop’s modest books line the walls, while the Santa Pub Crawl’s patrons echo from adjacent offices, the scent of burnt coffee mingling with wrapping paper. 1,700 children laugh amid the cadence of volunteers like Lori Mattioli and youngsters from Latinos In Action, yet the line of donors feels thin with celebrity absence; the only applause is that of a crowd that cares more for perceived status than the packages. The event, a masher of donors and families, lacks the star‑dust of Sundance but offers a crude ledger of community sentiment. Attendance feels optional; the clamor is too loud, the surroundings too claustrophobic. Verdict: Send a check but stay home.