Hello!

Welcome to your bimonthly source of information from The Idaho Foodbank. Please contact us if you have information to share, need to add someone to this distribution list, or have other inquiries: Partnerships@IdahoFoodbank.org.

The Idaho Foodbank Updates

The Idaho Foodbank Warehouse Closure
Please note that all of The Idaho Foodbank’s warehouses will be closed for inventory on July 28th & July 29th. Inventory checks allow for a better shopping experience for all partners. If you need to reschedule your pick-up or delivery, please contact partnerships@idahofoodbank.org. Please do not wait until the last minute to do this. We want everyone to get their orders in a timely manner.

Listening Session
The Idaho Foodbank, in collaboration with Feeding America, is collecting information from people who need food assistance to inform the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. Please consider posting or circulating the following flyer at your food distribution. The survey can be found on the QR code and will be open until July 29th. It is also available in both English and Spanish. This survey will help us, along with Feeding America, with our common goal of ending hunger, and we'll be able to segregate the data received by zip code to give us more information to help our communities.

Reminder: The Idaho Food Bank Fund- Applications are now open!
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for your program. The Idaho Food Bank Fund application period closes on July 31st, 2022. The Fund will award grants (generally up to $7,500) to support programs that provide nutrition awareness, promote healthy eating, and relieve hunger. You can find the application and guidelines at www.idahofoodbankfund.org. Grants will be awarded in early October.

Partner Training Sessions
The team at The Idaho Foodbank is offering sessions to help train your new staff and volunteers or as a refresher session for your existing food distribution team members. Please save the date for the next session and use this Zoom link to join on the following days/times:

Mobile Pantry Reporting – July 13th at 3 pm MDT/2 pm PDT
Fresh Produce Safety – July 14th at 1 pm MDT/12 pm PDT

If you have ideas on sessions that would be helpful to your organization and team, please let us know by sending an e-mail to Partnerships@IdahoFoodbank.org.

Upcoming Conversations - Save the Date

Local Meetings by Region - held on this Zoom link unless otherwise noted below

Partners in Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis & Nez Perce Counties
- Join us at 12 pm PDT on July 21st
Partners in Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette & Washington Counties
- Join us at 3 pm MDT on August 4 & November 3
Partners in Ada, Boise, Elmore, & Valley Counties
- Join us at 4 pm MDT on August 4 & November 3
Partners in Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka & Twin Falls Counties
- Join us in person on August 5 (time and location TBA)
Partners in Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power, & Teton Counties
- Join us at 12 pm MDT on August 22 & October 28

Nonprofit Updates
Reminder: Summer Feeding Program
Locations where people can find ready to eat meals for children and youth under 18 can be found on the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Meals Site Finder. Families can use this tool to find directions to nearby sites, as well as hours of operation and contact information. People can also text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304 to find free summer meals for kids in their area.
Please consider sharing the Summer Meals Site Finder and the texting information on your social media pages and/or at your food distribution to help families find nearby summer meals for children.

Summer Food Card
Catholic Charities of Idaho is providing summer food cards for families in need of assistance throughout the state of Idaho. Families must have children under the age of 18 living in their households to qualify. The gift card will be determined by need and does not expire. Families will need to fill out an application which can be accessed through the QR code or through this link. Please consider sharing this information with families to help them get extra food assistance.

Idaho WIC New Guidelines
Idaho's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have increased the maximum income threshold, which will allow more families to qualify for WIC. These new guidelines went into effect on July 1st.

Visit the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website for more information about this change and to apply for WIC. This story from KTVB news in Boise also has information about the new guidelines.

Partner Highlight

Community Garden
The Cathedral of the Rockies Amity Campus Food Pantry is celebrating 2 years of serving our neighbors. In addition to food from the Idaho Foodbank and food rescues, they are blessed to also receive fresh fruits and vegetables from the Amity campus garden. The garden has existed for almost 20 years, grows everything from asparagus to zucchini, and shares its bounty with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry on Overland Road. The garden is managed completely by volunteers and donates more than 20,000 pounds each year. A special aspect of the garden is its berries and pumpkins. Berries are made into jam for sale and pumpkins are given away in October just in time for Halloween. They know how important fresh produce is for healthy eating and hope these additions say "Bon Appetit" in a special way.

Wellness Corner
Fruit and Vegetables Season
Fruits and Vegetables are an important part of our daily diet. They are naturally delicious and contain vitamins and minerals needed to keep one healthy. There are many fruits and vegetables that are in season during the summer months. During these months, you are more likely to find them at a lower price. USDA offers a seasonal guide where you can know which fruits and vegetables are in season.

Happy to help.

Reach out to us if you have a highlight to share, have questions, or would like to connect with a Community Partner team member. Email us at: Partnerships@IdahoFoodbank.org.