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.

Mobile and Partner Specialist  
The Idaho Foodbank is pleased to introduce our new Mobile and Partner Specialist, Gabrielle Black. She will be working with our partners from Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties, as well as the mobile pantries in Southwest/South Central Idaho. We are excited to have Gabrielle join our Programs and Partnerships team.  

Here is some information that will help you get to know Gabrielle a little better: 

I recently moved from Washington State working in the job training sector. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, being outside, and spending time with my friends and my cats! I am looking forward to working with you all and learning more about the communities we are serving!  

                                       

Your Idaho Foodbank Representative 
Your Idaho Foodbank Representative is here to help you. We want to make things easier for you. If you have questions about reporting, ordering, or any other concerns that you might have, please reach out to your representative. Also, if you have ideas on sessions that would help your organization and team, they will work with you to get you the training that your organization needs.  

• Partners in Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis & Nez Perce Counties
  •  Lisa Tupin:  lturpin@idahofoodbank.org 
• Partners in Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power, & Teton Counties
  • Maren Nelson: manelson@idahofoodbank.org 
• Partners in Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette & Washington Counties 
  • Gabrielle Black: gblack@idahofoodbank.org  
• Partners in Ada, Boise, Elmore, & Valley Counties
  •  Leticia Garcia: lgarcia@idahofoodbank.org 
• Partners in Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka & Twin Falls Counties 
  •  Pete Valdon: pvaldon@idahofoodbank.org 

Nonprofit Updates
Diabetes Alliance of Idaho Annual Conference 
Diabetes Alliance of Idaho is hosting their annual conference. This year’s conference theme is “Better Health for All: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care.” They will be hosting this conference in Meridian and it is open to everyone statewide. If you are not able to attend in person, you also have the option to participate virtually. You can find more information here. 
   
   
 

Medicaid Changes 
Medicaid Eligibility Changes 
Due to the end of Medicaid Protection that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare (DHW) has been mailing re-evaluation notices to over 150,000 Medicaid participants to see if they are still eligible for Medicaid. When someone receives a notification in the mail from DHW, they should respond as soon as possible. If someone receives pink notice letter from DHW, their Medicaid coverage will end if they do not contact DHW. (Note: the address block of letter will be pink.)  

You can learn more about upcoming Medicaid changes on DHW’s website. You can contact DHW at 877-456-1233 or log in at idalink.idaho.gov/. 

End of the Idaho Legislature’s 2023 Session 
The Idaho Legislature has adjourned for the year. You can read The Idaho Nonprofit Center’s summary of the legislative session from the nonprofit perspective here. Now that the legislative session is done, this can be a good time to reach out to your legislators to tour your facility and/or share information with them about the work you do and how you are making a difference in your community. 

The Idaho Foodbank approached Ronda and other board members about running the monthly Mobile Pantry in Blackfoot and from there realized something was needed on a weekly basis to serve the community members of Bingham County. Around the same time, the Bingham County Senior Center also realized the need and the two agencies worked together to do a weekly pantry at the Senior Center. In 2014 they were offered a building which has worked well for community dinners, as well as food pantry distributions.  

Ronda has been the person pushing to do these things and the organizing force, but it has been the whole Community Dinner Table team as well as volunteers and donations that have enabled them to serve the community. Ronda says, “I have been so blessed through this work (all volunteer) to meet and get to know so many in our community and to have a chance to see the collaboration of so many organizations in order to care for those struggling in Bingham County.” 

We are grateful for the work Ronda has done for Blackfoot and Bingham County. The team in Pocatello wishes her all the best in her future endeavors!  

Future Partner Highlights 
If you want to be featured in our Partner’s Newsletter, please send your stories and pictures to your Idaho Foodbank representative or to partnerships@idahofoodbank.org. We would love to feature all the hard work that you are doing for the community, so please send forward your story.