Idaho Foodbank Warehouse

TO HELP FEED, EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR IDAHO'S HUNGRY THROUGH A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AND TO DEVELOP EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT FOOD DISTRIBUTION: THE IDAHO FOODBANK OPERATES WAREHOUSE FACILITIES IN MERIDIAN, LEWISTON, AND POCATELLO, DISTRIBUTING DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD TO A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 482 COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ALL 44 IDAHO COUNTIES. COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS, SENIOR CENTERS, AND SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAMS. FOR COMMUNITIES THAT LACK A BRICK-AND-MORTAR FOOD PANTRY OR SPECIAL POPULATIONS THAT REQUIRE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD SUPPORT, THE IDAHO FOODBANK CONDUCTS SCHEDULED MOBILE PANTRY DELIVERIES OF FRESH, DRY, AND FROZEN FOOD. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE IDAHO FOODBANK DISTRIBUTED FOOD AS PART OF THE NEWLY CREATED, TEMPORARY FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE IDAHO FOODBANK DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 27.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD - PROVIDING FOOD FOR NEARLY 22.6 MILLION MEALS - THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ITS OWN DIRECT-SERVICE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IDAHO. WHEN FOOD IS PURCHASED, VOLUME BUYING POWER MAXIMIZED THE RETURN ON DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT ONE DOLLAR CAN PROVIDE FOOD FOR UP TO FOUR MEALS. THE IDAHO FOODBANK, THROUGH ITS FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM, CAPTURED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED OVER 8 MILLION POUNDS OF SURPLUS FOOD FROM GROWERS, PROCESSORS, AND RETAIL OUTLETS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE END UP IN LOCAL LANDFILLS. MUCH OF THE FOOD RECEIVED IS IN BULK AND MUST BE REPACKAGED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO FAMILIES. THE WORK IS LARGELY DONE BY VOLUNTEERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 58,302 HOURS WERE DONATED BY 20,780 VOLUNTEERS, THE EQUIVALENT OF 28 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

NUTRITION SERVICES: THE IDAHO FOODBANK DEVELOPS, IMPLEMENTS, AND ADMINISTERS A WIDE ARRAY OF DIRECT-SERVICES PROGRAMS THAT BENEFITS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS. PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO THE MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM MENTIONED ABOVE INCLUDE BACKPACK, SCHOOL PANTRY, SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S COOKING MATTERS, COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP), AND THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP). THE IDAHO FOODBANK ALSO COLLABORATES WITH HEALTH CARE PARTNERS AND SYSTEMS, AND WORKS WITH EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE HEALTHIER FAMILIES AND MORE STABLE COMMUNITIES. DURING THE MOST RECENT SCHOOL YEAR, THE IDAHO FOODBANK'S BACKPACK PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 65,227 BACKPACKS. STATEWIDE, 2,763 CHILDREN RECEIVED A BACKPACK EVERY FRIDAY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN THE SAME PERIOD, 396,649 POUNDS OF FOOD (OR THE EQUIVALENT OF 330,541 MEALS) WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 8,828 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH THE SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS DIRECTED AT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROVIDE AN IMPACT ON THE EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN. MOREOVER, SCHOOL STAFF REPORT THAT THE BACKPACK PROGRAM HAS IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH FAMILIES. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES: RECOGNIZING THAT FOOD IS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH, THE IDAHO FOODBANK WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY COALITIONS, HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEAM PROVIDED 17 PRESENTATIONS ON THE LINK BETWEEN HUNGER AND HEALTH TO AUDIENCES INCLUDING HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEAM FACILITATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 31 DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESOURCES PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES ACROSS THE STATE. IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK RECEIVED THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS, THE IDAHO FOODBANK SUPPORTED THE PURCHASE OF HEALTHY, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE FOODS THROUGH SEVEN OF OUR MOBILE PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE. ITEMS INCLUDED MANGOS, MASECA, AND TOMATILLOS AMONG OTHERS. THE IDAHO FOODBANK ALSO PILOTED NEW INITIATIVES TO BETTER SUPPORT THE NUTRITION SECURITY NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY HUNGER. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEAM PILOTED UTILIZING TRANSLATION SERVICES TO CONNECT NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE, RADIO MARKETING, AND DIRECT DELIVERY OF FOOD TO SOME OF IDAHO'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE GOAL OF THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT IS TO WORK TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING, AND TO EXPLORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH.