Hello!
Welcome to your monthly 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.
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The Idaho Foodbank Updates
The Idaho Foodbank Warehouse Closure
Happy Holidays from all of us here at The Idaho Foodbank!
Please keep in mind that all of The Idaho Foodbank’s warehouses will be closed for both pick up and delivery for the holidays. Because Christmas and New Year’s fall on the weekend, we will be closed on Friday, December 23rd, Monday, December 26th and the following Monday, January 2nd. This will allow our employees to spend the holiday with their families. If you need to reschedule your pick up or delivery, please contact partnerships@idahofoodbank.org.
People Served Report
Please remember to fill out your monthly people served reports. They are due on the 5th of the following month. The Idaho Foodbank uses these numbers for our planning process. The numbers in the report help us to know how much food to bring in through the year and across multiple years.
Please consider looking at your Agency Express account under “my surveys” to see if there are any surveys you have not completed. Also, make sure to select “clear” before selecting “search” so that you can get an accurate view of the surveys needed.
Partner Training Sessions
The team at The Idaho Foodbank is offering sessions to help train your new staff and volunteers. This can also be 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:
We are in the process of creating our new training calendar for 2023. 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.
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Upcoming Regional Conversations - Save the Date
These conversations provide updates to partners about The Idaho Foodbank and give partners an opportunity to share feedback, as well as collaborate and brainstorm with other partners about their food pantries.
Partner Meetings by Region - held on this Zoom link unless otherwise noted below
- Partners in Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis & Nez Perce Counties
- Date and time will be announced later.
- Partners in Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette & Washington Counties
- Join us at 3 pm MST on February 7th
- Partners in Ada, Boise, Elmore, & Valley Counties
- Join us at 3 pm MST on February 7th
- Partners in Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka & Twin Falls Counties
- Join us at 1 pm MST on February 9th
- Partners in Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power, & Teton Counties
- Date and time will be announced later.
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Nonprofit Updates
Access to Dental Care
Access to quality dental care is essential to wellbeing, but unfortunately it can feel out of reach for many Idahoans. That’s why The Idaho Foodbank is proud to partner with organizations like Delta Dental. Delta Dental provides free and reduced cost dental care to children and seniors across the state who otherwise may not have access, through their “Grins On the Go” and “Grinwell For You” programs.
This month, we look forward to providing our partners across the state with dental kits! You’ll see these on the Agency Express shopping list. Thank you for providing these vital hygiene items to your neighbors in need.
Interested in doing more to support the oral health of your neighbors? Reach out to communityhealth@idahofoodbank.org and we can connect you with co-location of service opportunities.
Understanding Food Labels
Nutrition Labels on food can be filled with a lot of important information, but sometimes it can be difficult to understand. The National CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) Association has created these infographics that provide insights on how to read nutrition labels. Please consider sharing them with your neighbors.
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Partner Highlight
Traveling Table
Traveling Table distributes food at two locations in Nampa on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The Healthy Impact Nampa Coalition meets every month, two weeks before the distribution, to ensure there are the volunteers, drivers, and materials that are needed. Information about other Nampa-area events and community resources are shared amongst the group.
Volunteers from a variety of organizations work with the Traveling Table each month, picking up food from The Idaho Foodbank; filling bags and boxes for households; and delivering bags to senior communities. In addition to the drive-through food pick up for households, food bags are delivered to about 45 seniors throughout the city. Traveling Table is a terrific example of what good can be accomplished when people put their talents into working together.
 
Fort Hall Assembly of God
The Idaho Foodbank’s Pocatello branch was able to help a long-time partner fulfill a wish they had for their pantry. With the help of a grant from Micron, The Idaho Foodbank was able to support paving the Fort Hall Assembly of God’s parking lot.
Pantry Coordinator Ernestine Ellsworth and her family came to the Pocatello warehouse to pick up their orders, but recently had requested delivery. Thier pantry’s parking lot was dirt and gravel, so it was difficult to unload orders using the pallet jack. Drivers would have to unload in the street and volunteers would walk boxes across the parking lot and into the pantry. In the winter, when the snow or rain would freeze the parking lot was often iced over and dangerous for people to navigate.
With the help of Idaho Materials and Construction in Pocatello and a Micron grant through IFB, we were able to have the lot paved before the first snow fell in the area. The addition of the paved parking lot makes it safer for all patrons of the church and pantry.
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Wellness Corner
Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
In Idaho, we are fortunate to have many flourishing cultural communities that celebrate the holidays with a variety of foods and traditions. The Ethiopian culture enjoys Yebeg Wot, a lamb stew served with injera, which is a flatbread. The Ukrainian culture serves Kutia, a dish made from cooked wheat berries, poppy seeds, dried fruit, and honey that is served on Christmas Eve.
Food is not only nourishment for our bodies – it can also be a sign of connection, spirituality, and heritage. This is especially true during the holidays when we spend time with friends and family.
Many holiday foods are not particularly healthy and they can be high in calories, fat, or sodium. There are a few ways to enjoy holiday foods while still being mindful of your overall health. Keys to maintaining holiday nutrition include moderating how much of these foods you eat; learning to prepare healthier versions of your favorites; increasing consumption of other healthy and nutrient-rich foods; and increasing physical activity.
For a healthy and satisfying side dish, try this recipe for Holiday Sweet Potatoes from EatFresh.org. You can find nutritional details and search for more recipes here.
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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. |
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