(Left) Families line up for lunch at Winstead Park as Doug Lock-Smith of KIVI Channel 6 tapes for a feature on the Picnic in the Park program. Children ate free, and adults paid $1 for their lunches.
(Right) Two young diners enjoy their well-balanced lunches on a glorious July afternoon.

More Than 82,000 Served

Picnic in the Park Ends With 10% Increase

Picnic in the Park 2008 is over, but the memories of hundreds of smiling children will remain with all of us for a long time.

And there were more smiling children than last year. We are happy to report that The Idaho Foodbank's summer feeding program served 82,463 nutritious lunches this summer, an increase of 7,420 or 9.8%, over last year. That is a lot of happy, well-fed kids.

The Picnic in the Park program provided free summer lunches every weekday at 14 public sites to any child between the ages 1-18 who wanted it. There were 12 sites in Boise, one in Meridian and one in Nampa. Last year the program served 75,017 lunches.

This year’s Boise sites were Ann Morrison, Cassia, Elm Grove, Fairmont, Ivywild, Manitou, Owyhee, Veterans Memorial and Winstead parks, plus the Boise Family YMCA (1050 W. State St.), Davis Apartments (970 N. 29th St.) and Northwest Pointe Apartments (3475 N. Five Mile Rd.).

In Meridian, lunches were served at Storey Park. In Nampa, lunch was at the Boys and Girls Club until it closed on July 31.

There were no income or attendance requirements. All young people had to do was show up and enjoy lunch, which was always followed by games, arts and crafts, or other enrichment activities.

Our warm thanks to our Picnic in the Park partners this year: Boise City Parks and Recreation, Albertsons, the US Department of Agriculture, the Idaho State Department of Education, United Way of the Treasure Valley, Humphreys Diabetes Center, Ada Community Library and generous individual donors.

And congratulations to staff members Chris Blumenstein, Vonda Pattee and the other 44 highly skilled energetic summer staff members who all worked so hard to make this important program a success. You made a lot of difference in a lot of lives this summer.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider

Click here to see the KIVI Channel 6 feature on this year's Picnic in the Park...

October 17: BSU vs. Hawaii
First Annual "Bowl Game" Will Put a Hit on Hunger


The first Hunger Bowl - The First Bowl of the Year is a hugely exciting event that is still evolving very quickly. In an effort to fill the empty shelves at The Idaho Foodbank, the energetic Dan Long, formerly the owner and now the business developer for A-1 Plumbing, has put together a coalition that so far includes Boise State University football, Peak Broadcasting (the new home of Bronco football), Tom Scott Communications, KTVB Channel 7, Tates Rents, the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Nampa Chamber of Commerce and Mercy Hospital, also in Nampa.

So far, this is what the month-long Hunger Bowl food and funds drive will look like:

 "Fans with Cans" will be asked to take non-perishable food to the Hawaii game on Oct. 17.§
 A-1 Plumbing will offer a "can for a can." Every customer who donates a can of food will be entered in a drawing to win a 1.2-gallon Toto Toilet. The company will also make a $500 donation to help bring in more food.§
 In order to spotlight the food drive, A-1 will also sponsor th§e "Knocked Him on His Can" award to celebrate the biggest hit by a Bronco.
 Peak Broadcasting will promote the food drive on KIDO (the new home of the Bronco radio broadcasts), as well as 107.9 LITE-FM, 63 KFXD, Mix 106, Wow Country 104.3 and 103.3 Kiss FM.§
 Larry Gebert of KTVB Channel 7 will promote the food drive during his morning show broadcast the day of the Hawaii game from the beautiful blue turf in Bronco Stadium.§

The Hunger Bowl comes at a crucial time for hungry Idaho families. Food prices are way up. Food donations to the Foodbank are declining, while demand and expenses – especially gas prices – are rising. Idaho remains the 13th hungriest state in the nation overall and has the sixth highest rate of child hunger. Events like this make a real difference.
Food drives don't have to be huge to be successful. There is even a "Food and Fund Drive Kit" right here...

Your Ticket Purchase Goes Directly to Fight Hunger in Idaho

Idaho Families to Benefit from Albertsons Boise Open

We are thrilled that the Foodbank will once again be a beneficiary of the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft. The 72-hole golf tournament and associated activities are set for Sept. 8-14 at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise.

All you have to do is designate The Idaho Foodbank (alphabetized under "T") as the recipient when you buy your tickets, and 100% of the ticket cost will be used in the fight against hunger in Idaho. Then you can watch some of the best golfers in the world, enjoy the beauty of Hillcrest Country Club and support the Foodbank all at the same time.

To buy a ticket and help the Foodbank’s efforts against childhood hunger, just use the handy link below. When you get to the page, choose Idaho Foodbank from the alphabetical list of charities.

The Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft, is part of the 30-event Nationwide Tour, a subsidiary of the PGA TOUR. The top 25 money winners during the Nationwide season will automatically be eligible to play on the PGA TOUR in 2008. The total purse for the Boise Open is $725,000. The winner will earn $130,500.

Here is your link to the Albertsons Open ticket page...

September is National Hunger Action Month

Thirty days hath September, and we have 30 ways you can participate in the first annual Hunger Action Month. Whether you are a newcomer to the issue of domestic hunger or you have already been involved, we have some fun, useful, easy and even artistic suggestions for ways for you to join in the effort to provide hunger relief to Idaho families. One idea is for you to watch "Sunday Night Football." How easy is that? Check out the list. If you act on just one, or attempt all 30, you can make a difference!

For more information, call The Idaho Foodbank. In Boise – 336-9643, in Pocatello – 233-8811, in Lewiston – 746-2288.

Here are the first five ideas on the list:

1. Donate produce from your garden or fruit trees to the Grow a Row program at The Idaho Foodbank.

2. In Boise, plan now to participate in The Hunger Bowl – The First Bowl of the Year. Bring canned food to the BSU vs. Hawaii game on Oct. 17 and watch The Idaho Foodbank web site for more details about the month-long campaign – www.idahofoodboank.org. Sponsors include Boise State University, A-1 Plumbing, Peak Broadcasting, Tates Rents, the Nampa Chamber of Commerce, the Boise Metro Chamber and Mercy Medical Center.

3. In Pocatello, hold a fundraiser (large or small) or donate to help us open our beautiful new facility at 555 S. First Avenue. The grand opening is Oct. 9.

4. Create a video about hunger in your community, involve the Foodbank and post it on YouTube.

5. Call the Foodbank to find out the many things you can do as a volunteer in the fight against hunger in Idaho.

To see the complete list of 30 exciting ideas, just click here...

Say Hello to Randy Williams

Volunteers and staff at the Foodbank welcomed Randy Williams as our new Lead Volunteer Supervisor in June. Randy has brought a refreshing energy, fun and innovation to the Foodbank, combined with a great love for people and good taste in the music he plays in the warehouse.

He has also taken on responsibilities with the lawn and trees, using his lengthy landscaping experience, as well as tending the Feeding Hope Garden and Orchard projects, in which food is grown right here at our Boise facility.

He is a blur running back and forth in the warehouse, making sure everything is done well and volunteer needs are met, but do stop and say “Hello!” the next time you come by.

You can sign up to work with Randy by using the volunteer page on our web site. Just click here...

Government Says Food Prices Will Rise Next Year

Higher grain prices will equate to higher beef, pork and chicken prices. In turn, this will force overall food prices to increase by four to five percent in 2009 as retailers pass along energy and commodity costs to consumers, according to experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This is the third year in a row with high increases in the cost of food, with the government estimating a 5% increase this year. In 2007, the cost of food rose by four percent. This year's increase is the largest since 1990.

Groceries, snacks, carry-out food and restaurant meals account for $1 trillion spent by Americans on food in a year; of this amount, farmers make 20 cents on every dollar, "which dilutes the impact of record-high crop prices." Processing, labor, transportation and distribution take the other 80 cents.

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Agflation/idUSN2334259320080723

Low-wage Workers Struggle to Pay for Food

A nationwide poll conducted between June 18 and July 7, 2008 by the Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University found that low-wage workers making no more than $27,000 in 2007 have been hit hard by the current economy.

One family said they pawned DVDs, jewelry and other valuables to "put food on the table."

Almost half of those surveyed said they "struggle to pay for food," and the "vast majority…are having trouble paying for gas, saving for retirement…Most find it difficult to afford health care and housing."

Postponing medical and dental care and minimizing electricity and heat use are the primary methods many use to make ends meet. Half said they could survive a month if they lost their jobs, while a third said they would only survive two weeks or less.

While some mentioned they took advantage of government food assistance programs, more than half believe that government programs "aren't having much impact." The majority feel the federal government and corporate America has some responsibility for their situation.

To see the entire Washington Post article, just click here...

Donors’ Corner:
Idaho Community Foundation

We are very pleased to announce that the Idaho Community Foundation's board of directors has approved a $2,000 grant to support the Mobile Pantry program in Lewiston and the five-county area our northern facility serves.

The grant was provided through the Northern Region Greatest Need Fund.

In the notification letter, Cathy Silak, the Foundation’s president and CEO, wrote: "On behalf of the Foundation's board of directors, members, and the Northern Region Advisory Panel and staff, we would like to thank you for enabling the Idaho Community Foundation to be a part of the work you do to enrich the quality of life throughout Idaho."

Our thanks to the Community Foundation board and the Northern Region Greatest Need Fund for their partnership as we work for a hunger-free Idaho.

You don't have to have a foundation to support the Mobile Pantry program. Just click here to see our secure donation page...

Our New Guestbook is a Great Place to Say Hello

We are happy to announce that we have added a guestbook to our web site. It’s a place you can use to say hello, comment on a program, ask a question or read what others have to say.

We have already received a few comments, including this encouraging note from Stacy A. Myers:

I am new to Idaho, and I am impressed with what you are doing."

Thank you, Stacy. We hope you will stay in touch. And we hope you, gentle reader, will do the same.

Tell us what you think or just say hello...

Use Your Facebook or MySpace Page

An Easy Way to Help

Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page? If so, there is an easy way for you to help spread the word about the fight against hunger in Idaho. Just add us to your profile, and let your friends know that they can help, too. You can link them to our web site, www.idahofoodbank.org, and if they want to see a short video they can check us out on YouTube at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fua15-Nz5KA.

Together we can really make a difference. Thank you.

Here is an easy link to the YouTube video...

New Jingle Could Mean
Truck of Tuna

The nice people at Chicken of the Sea have launched a promotion that could benefit a lot of hungry Idahoans.

The "Mermaid Jingle Jam" contest asks people to create a new version of the company's famous jingle and video themselves singing it. The grand-prize winner will receive a celebrity-style trip to Universal Studios Hollywood - complete with a behind-the-scenes tour, airfare to Los Angeles, two nights stay at a star-studded hotel and dinner at a Hollywood hotspot.

Plus, the food bank in the winner's area will receive a truckload of Chicken of the Sea seafood.

You must be at least 18 and join the Mermaid Club, which is your email address and a password. The deadline is Oct. 1, so don't procrastinate. Good luck!

All the details and rules are right here..

Gallery of Giving: Oregon National Guard

The Oregon National Guard not only donated more than 19,000 pounds of food, several of its members helped unload the delivery truck.

An army may march on its stomach, but it gives from the heart – in this case about 19,600 pounds of badly needed produce, fruit and meat.

This extraordinary donation came from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon National Guard, based in the Portland, Oregon area, but with units located across the state. The Guard members were in Boise to train for deployment to Iraq, probably next summer.

The food was ordered months ago and proved to be more than they needed, said Lt. Col. Terri Wold, "but since we had already paid for it, did not want to see it go to waste."

Lt. Col. Wold contacted her counterpart at the Idaho National Guard, Lt. Col. Karen Fee, who recommended the Foodbank. GIs and Foodbank volunteers and staff unloaded the trucks, weighed and inventoried the food. Within 48 hours, 187,000 pounds (95%) of it had gone back into Foodbank trucks for Mobile Pantry deliveries to Wendell and Nampa, where more than 100 families lined up to receive the badly needed food.

Our great thanks to both Lt. Col. Wold and Lt. Col. Fee for helping get this excellent, high-quality food to families who need it.

If you want to donate specific grocery items, just click here to see what we need...

PBJ Drive Needs Help This Year

(Right) The long and the short of it. Larry Gebert of KTVB Channel 7 interviews Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive founder Karen Smith at last year's PBJ rally.

This is definitely a good news-bad news situation.

The bad news is that Karen Smith, the Boise teacher who founded and has been the driving force behind the Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive for the past nine years has resigned her position with the Boise School District and will not be able to head up this year's drive.

The good news is that the reason Karen resigned is that she and her husband are preparing to adopt a baby girl from Vietnam.

We are absolutely thrilled for Karen. This is something she has wanted for a long time. On the other hand, we don't want to let this wonderful and important food drive disappear.

The PBJ Drive runs Oct. 13-18. It would help if we could find someone who works in the Boise or Meridian school districts, or, better yet, at the state level. All it takes is a leader who shares the commitment to nourished children.

If you fit that description or know someone who does, please contact Terry Graves at 336-9643, ext. 244 or...

click here to go to our volunteer page...

Facts of the Month: Food Stamps and Idaho

 The number of people in Idaho who receive food stamps increased 18% from May 2007 to May 2008.§
 It is the third highest rate of increase in the nation.§
 Currently 103,000 Idahoans are enrolled in the food stamp program.§
 By June 2009, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare estimates one in 13 Idahoans will be on food stamps.§

You make what we do possible. And we hope you will continue to help feed hungry families. Just click here to start the process...

Quote of the Month

"You can get everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they
want."



Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar

Author, salesperson and motivational speaker. His books include God's Way Is Still the Best Way and Better Than Good: Creating a Life You Can't Wait to Live.

Care to lend a hand in the battle against hunger? Here's the link to our volunteer page...

The Foodbank's 2008 Calendar

August 30-September 1 - Eagle Rib Cook-Off and Spudfest Labor Day weekend. A cook-off sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society at Guerber Park. Free admission with canned food donation for the Foodbank. 860-1820. Eagle

September - Hunger Action Month. For 30 Ways to Help in 30 Days, click on http://idahohungeraction.blogspot.com/ to see a list of ideas. Statewide

September 2 - Hillcrest Floral in Boise is teaming up with The Idaho Foodbank to help fight hunger. Today only, donate a can of food at Hillcrest Floral and you will receive a free bunch of roses.

September 3 - CROP Walk 2008 planning meeting for volunteers and those who want to recruit their organizations. Information packets will be available. CROP Walk supports The Idaho Foodbank. 6:30 p.m., Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 828 W. Cherry Lane, Meridian. Ted Wimer at 922-9617 or teddy6w@peoplepc.com.

September 4 - NBC's "Monday Night Football" (this week on Thursday) will feature PSAs all season to promote Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network) and local affiliates such as The Idaho Foodbank. The first game is the Washington Redskins at the New York Giants.

Through September 14 - Roaring Springs is teaming up with the Foodbank to collect non-perishable food this summer. Just drop your canned and boxed food the next time you visit. Meridian

September 8-14 – Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft. The 72-hole golf tournament and associated activities are set for Sept. 8-14 at Hillcrest Country Club. Ticket sales can benefit the Foodbank. Look for The Idaho Foodbank on the alphabetized list http://www.albertsonsboiseopen.com/tickets/tickets.php Boise

September 15-28 - Albertsons Virtual Food Drive. Statewide

October 9 - Grand Opening of The Idaho Foodbank's new Pocatello facility and The Mayor's Award for the Arts at The Idaho Foodbank, 555 S. First Ave. 233-8811. Pocatello

October 10 - Idaho Summit on Hunger and Food Insecurity. 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Doubletree Riverside. Speakers include Kate Houston (USDA) and Jim Weil (FRAC). Information: 211 (Idaho CareLine) or www.idahohungersummit.org. Garden City

October 13-18 - Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive. We need help this year. If you can help coordinate this year's drive, call Terry Graves at 336-9643, ext. 244.

October 17 - First annual Idaho Hunger Bowl, the first bowl of the season. The food drive will go on all month. The game is BSU vs. Hawaii. Watch our web site, www.idahofoodbank.org, for details.

October 19 - Boise/Ada County CROP Hunger Walk at Julia Davis Park’s Gene Harris Band Shell. Live music will begin at 1 p.m., and the walk starts at 2 p.m. Last year CROP Walk raised $8,800 for the Foodbank. Ted Wimer at 922-9617 or teddy6w@peoplepc.com. Boise

Your time and skills are like gold to us. Please volunteer now. Click here for information...

Thank You!
The Idaho Foodbank is a network of 200 non-profit agencies statewide, is an affiliate of Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network) and is proud to be supported by several United Ways in Idaho. Please consider helping us feed hungry Idahoans by donating online today at http://www.idahofoodbank.org/donate.htm.

You can use the handy form at the bottom to forward this edition of Idaho Foodbytes to any of your friends who want more information about hunger and poverty in Idaho, want to know more about the Foodbank or would enjoy photos of recent Foodbank events.

To see our past newsletters and get much more information about who we are and what we do, check our award-winning web site: http://www.idahofoodbank.org (First place, Idaho Press Club 2005 and 2007). You are also welcome to stop by our three warehouses: Boise, 3562 S. TK Avenue; Lewiston, 3600 E. Main; and Pocatello, 919 S. 2nd Avenue.

Unsubscribe information is at the bottom of this newsletter. If you would like to receive our free print newsletter, Food for Thought, email David Proctor at dproctor@idahofoodbank.org.

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USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider

This link will take you to our secure donation page...