Welcome to fall at the Foodbank,

We will kick off our 25th year with the grand opening of our new building in Pocatello, followed by the first annual Hunger Bowl, the Scouting for Food drive and the 11th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser. As you can tell, our calendar is even more full than usual this fall. The details are below. And, of course, we are getting ready the holiday season at our three warehouses as we search for 20,000 turkeys. As life picks up the pace this fall please remember all those families who need a helping hand. They can't do it without you. Thanks for everything. This is the September edition of Idaho Foodbytes, The Idaho Foodbank's electronic newsletter, Volume VII, Number 9. -- David Proctor The Idaho Foodbank Leading the effort to end hunger in Idaho September Contents 1. You Are Cordially Invited to... 2. First Annual "Bowl Game" Will Tackle Hunger 3. Boy Scouts to Collect Food Nov. 8 4. More Americans Lived in Poverty in 2007 5. Idaho Power: Save and Give at the Same Time 6. Idaho Housing Wins 2008 Business to Business Challenge 7. Boise Rescue Mission Celebrates 50 Years of Service 8. Donors’ Corner: Top 10 Food and Fund Drives for the Third Quarter 9. Target This Year: 2,000 Empty Bowls 10. Letter to the Foodbank: Citi Cards 11. Gallery of Giving: Regence Blue Shield of Idaho 12. Gallery of Giving II: Glanbia Foods and Fred Meyer Stores 13. Facts of the Month: Food Insecurity 14. Quote of the Month: Senator Bob Dole 15. The Foodbank's 2008 Calendar

 

This artist's rendering of the new Idaho Foodbank building in Pocatello gives you only some idea of what this beautiful new facility will look like. The old Budweiser distribution building has been transformed completely. But more important than the aesthetics is the capacity. It will increase our total square footage from 11,000 to 20,900, available storage space from 7,000 to 19,200 square feet, our freezer from 7,680 to 16,000 cubic feet, our cooler from 2,400 to 7,680 cubic feet and our dry storage capacity from 150,000 to 400,000 pounds. What this all means is that, thanks to remarkable community support, we can increase our distribution in Southeast Idaho from the 1.2 million pounds a year we were able to do in our old building to three million pounds a year. As an added bonus, the building will also serve as a community center, with public meeting space and low-cost offices for other non-profits. As proud as we are of our new building, we are even more grateful to Dorsey Hill and our capital campaign committee for all the work they have done to bring this dream to a reality. You Are Cordially Invited to Kick Off The Idaho Foodbank’s 25th Year with the Grand Opening of The Idaho Foodbank's New Pocatello Facility and The Mayor's Awards for the Arts At The Idaho Foodbank 555 S. First Ave. Thursday, October 9 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 233-8811 Click here to see the KIFI Channel 8 feature on our new building...

 

October 17: BSU vs. Hawaii The First Annual Hunger Bowl: Let's Tackle Hunger The first Hunger Bowl - The First Bowl of the Year will be the culmination of a two-week food drive whose goal is 200,000 pounds – or the cash equivalent – to feed hungry Idaho families during these hard economic times. The Hunger Bowl is a hugely exciting new event on the Foodbank calendar. 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), and Tates Rents, along with Banner Bank, the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Disaster Kleenup, Thornton Oliver Keller Commercial Real Estate, the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Nampa Chamber of Commerce, the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, Sam’s Club, Idaho Power and the Building Owners & Managers Association, Johnny on the Spot Disaster Cleanup, Harris Rebar, Blue Cross of Idaho and Oaas Laney. The Hunger Bowl food and funds drive will include: * Non-perishable food can be dropped at any A-1 Plumbing or Tates Rents location, any Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Harris Rebar, any Banner Bank, disaster Kleenup, Thornton Oliver Keller, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Blue Cross of Idaho, Blueprint Specialties Co. and Oaas Laney. * "Fans with Cans" – fans attending the Hawaii game can take non-perishable food to the Oct. 17 game. Donations can be dropped at the Tates Rents tent across from the Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery and Peak live remote locations around the stadium. * A-1 Plumbing will discount service by $1 for every can of food customers donate, up to 10 cans. The company will also match the total donations dollar for dollar. * Peak Broadcasting will promote the food drive on 580 KIDO (the new home of the Bronco radio broadcasts), and will receive support from 107.9 LITE-FM, 63 KFXD-AM, Mix 106, Wow Country! 104.3-FM and 103.3 Kiss FM. * The goal of the inaugural Hunger Bowl is to collect a football field's worth of food. At one ton per yard, that would be 200,000 pounds. 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 very real difference. Food drives don't have to be huge to be successful. There is even a "Food and Fund Drive Kit" right here...

 

Scouting for Food 2008 Boy Scouts to Collect Food Nov. 8 for Hungry in SW Idaho Scouts from Mountain Home to Ontario to McCall will go door to door to collect non-perishable food items to help their hungry neighbors on Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., during the annual Scouting for Food drive. The food will be collected rain or shine and will go to local organizations – including The Idaho Foodbank, the Salvation Army and the Jaycees – that have joined forced to fight hunger during the upcoming holidays. Scouts across the valley will distribute bags as reminders, but if you don’t receive one call The Idaho Foodbank at 336-9643 (weekdays) or the Ore-Ida Scout Office at 344-4411 for drop-off locations. Scouting for Food is sponsored by the Ore-Ida Council, The Idaho Foodbank, Wal-Mart, United Way of Treasure Valley, West Coast Paper, Hall E. Woode Productions and Idaho Power. Know someone in the Treasure or Magic valleys who needs food assistance? Click right here...

Census Bureau Says  More Americans Lived in Poverty in 2007 We know it from the headlines and our daily lives, but now the U.S. Census Bureau has made it official. More Americans were in poverty in 2007 than in 2006. We fully expect the U.S. Department of Agriculture hunger statistics to follow this trend when they are released. In August, the Bureau reported that 12.5% of Americans - 37.3 million people - an increase of about 800,000 people, lived below the federal poverty line in 2007. In 2006, there were 36.5 million Americans in poverty. Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center and a keynote speaker at the upcoming Idaho Summit on Hunger and Food Insecurity, called for a food stamp boost in the second federal stimulus package to ease struggle of families living in poverty. "Low-income families facing skyrocketing food prices need a boost in food stamps," said Weill. "Economists across the political spectrum agree that a boost in food stamp benefits is the most effective way to stimulate the economy, as well as a huge help for families confronting the worst struggles." To read more about this study and about FRAC, use this link...

 

New Idaho Power Program Save and Give at the Same Time The nice people at Idaho Power have an offer that most of their customers – we hope – won’t want to refuse. It saves money for customers and brings money to the Foodbank to help us feed the growing number of Idahoans who find themselves in difficult circumstances these days. There is the deal: From now through January 17, 2009, for every customer who signs up for and participates in Idaho Power's , the company will – with the customer’s permission – donate $20 to The Idaho Foodbank. Participation in Idaho Power's A/C Cool Credit Program will shift energy use during the highest-use summer days, which will help ensure reliable power for everyone. It also helps keep costs down by lessening the demand for power when electricity demand is at its highest and is most expensive to produce or purchase. A/C Cool Credit is an air conditioner cycling program that involves a “cool switch” device that would be installed near your A/C unit. When electricity demand is at its peak, the “cool switch” will cycle your A/C about 50% of the time. For instance, it would be off for 15 minutes, then on for 15 minutes. The fan continues to run, circulating the previously cooled air. The program only cycles on weekday evenings, usually between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and not more than 40 hours per month. This intermittent cycling helps to make sure your home stays comfortable. A/C Cool Credit is also safe for your air conditioner. There are three ways to sign up: § Online at www.idahopower.com/accoolcredit § Call 866-865-2665 (COOL) § Complete and return the form in your power bill Thank you in advance for your willingness to help preserve our environment and feed hungry Idaho families. To see the complete list of 30 exciting ideas, just click here...

Why Not Take Your Turkey to Work? 20,000 Turkeys Needed for the 2008 Holidays By Julie Rudolph With the holiday season approaching – and as the shortage of emergency food in Idaho continues to be a major challenge – we need your help to raise funds and procure the 20,000 turkeys and other holiday meats we expect will be needed this November and December to help provide holiday meals to hungry families across Idaho. Last year, The Idaho Foodbank distributed 16,737 holiday meats (turkeys, hams and chickens) statewide. This year, with a 25% increase in food distribution from last year, your Foodbank has a goal of acquiring and, with our partner agencies, distributing 20,000 turkeys and other meats this holiday season. Just think what your donation will mean to families living on the edge. Thanks to you, they will be able to enjoy a holiday dinner that didn’t cost them the money they needed for rent, gas or the doctor. Please remember, what may be "gravy" to you, can make all the difference for the 17,300 people in Idaho that receive emergency food assistance in any given week. Here are a few of the ways you can help: • Make a donation designated for turkeys. • Hold a "Take Your Turkey to Work" drive at your place of business. • Buy an extra turkey or two and donate at any Les Schwab Tire Center in the Treasure Valley during November and December. Here is an easy link to the food drive information on our web site...

Idaho Housing Wins 2008 Business to Business Challenge Eighteen businesses competed in this year's Idaho Foodbank Business to Business Food Drive Challenge, and for the second year in a row the fantastic folks at the Idaho Housing and Finance Association rolled to victory. IHFA employees brought in 341 pounds of food and $1,322.75. Equally important, this year's challenge put 4,691 pounds on our very empty warehouse shelves and generated an additional $1,767.75 to help us pay the increased cost of trucking in food from out of state. Our deep thanks to everyone who took part. We're looking forward to the best Challenge ever in 2009. We make food drives easy. Just check out our Food Drive Kit right here...

 

The Rescue Mission's River of Life building at 575 S. 13th St. in Boise (Photo by Tracy McFarlin) One of the Foodbank's Largest Partner Agencies Boise Rescue Mission Celebrates 50 Years of Service By Elise Manicke As the Boise Rescue Mission prepared for its 50th anniversary banquet, it faced changes – both long-term and immediate. Over the past 50 years, the clients served by the Mission – one of the Foodbank’s largest partner agencies – have gotten younger, and there are many more women and children. "The biggest change (is) that we’re seeing so many women and women with children now," said Reverend Bill Roscoe, the Mission’s executive director. "Nationwide and in Boise, the homeless population is between 30 and 35% women and women with children." Roscoe also said that when he started working with the homeless, the average age of those served was over 50. Now, the average age is late 30s to early 40s. Since this time last year, the Mission has seen an upsurge in the number of people needing meals. In August, it served 23,445 meals in its three dining rooms. Last year, it served 15,735 meals. It has served 30,000 more meals this year than at the same time last year. The Idaho Foodbank is a big part of the Mission’s meal services. From May 1, 2007, to April 30, 2008, the Foodbank supplied the Mission with 169,589 pounds of food "In these challenging times, we appreciate all the Foodbank does," said Glenn Compton, a volunteer coordinator. More women and children than ever are making use of the food offered at the Mission. "We’re also seeing more families, more single moms with children," Roscoe said. "Both of our men's facilities will serve (meals) to anyone, and we're seeing more women and children there than we have in the past." Giving hasn’t kept pace with the increase in need. Giving is up by about 1%, Roscoe said, but expenses are up by about 10%. The Mission’s banquet, held Sept. 20 in the Jordan Ballroom at Boise State, was a huge success with 430 people in attendance. For more information about the Rescue Mission...

Donors’ Corner: Top 10 Food and Fund Drives for the Third Quarter This is a list of our heros for the May-August period. Thank you all for these wonderful efforts. 1. Hewlett-Packard (Boise) – 3,979 pounds and $2,053.50 2. Eagle Rib Cook-Off & Spudfest (Eagle) – 6,029 pounds and $28 3. Sunday Blues Concert (Boise) – 1,450 pounds and $74 4. Aid for Friends (Pocatello) – 1,230 pounds 5. Memorial Pet Care (Meridian) – 1,199 pounds 6. ISU Summer Activities (Pocatello) – 1,010 pounds 7. Hillcrest Floral (Boise) – 888 pounds and $85 8. Spine Align (Pocatello) – 817 pounds 9. Eagle Scout Andrew Morris (Eagle) – 712 pounds 10. The Knitting Factory (Boise) – 683 pounds $16 Food drives are really easy. There is even a "Food and Fund Drive Kit" you can download. Just click here...

 

Gallery of Giving II: Glanbia Foods and Fred Meyer Stores (Left) Jeff Williams (in red), President and CEO of Glanbia Foods, presented the Foodbank's Tracy McFarlin with a check for $16,000 at the Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls. The money will help us expand the Grocery Alliance Program (GAP) in the Magic Valley area. GAP picks up food that is about to go out of date in stores and moves it quickly to those in need. Glanbia Foods is the largest American-style cheese manufacturer in the United States. (Right) Rick Heffner of Fred Meyer stores (in tie) presents Foodbank President and CEO Roger Simon with a check for $23,000 from its in-store Bring Hope to the Table fundraising drive. The funds will be used to augment the GAP, which helped provide 482,000 pounds of food last year. Every donation, large or small, will be put to use to help feed hungry Idaho families. Just click here to find an easy way to donate...

 

Facts of the Month: § 35.5 million Americans live in households considered to be food insecure. That is, they have lower quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. § Of these 35.5 million, 22.9 million are adults (10.4% of all adults) and 12.6 million are children (17.2% of all children). § In Idaho, that figure is 201,800 people, including 79,200 children, who are at risk of hunger on a daily basis Without you, there is no Foodbank. And we hope you will continue to help feed hungry families. Just click here to start the process...

 

Quote of the Month "Give to others so that they may grow strong and not dependent." Robert Dole (1923 - ) Winner of the Bronze Star in World War II, attorney, U.S. senator from Kansas, 1969–1996, longest-serving Senate majority leader, Republican vice-presidential nominee in the 1976 and Republican presidential nominee in 1996. Care to lend a hand in the battle against hunger? Here's the link to our volunteer page...

 

The Foodbank's 2008 Calendar September 26-October 12 - Comic Shops Food Drive. Drop food at Archenemy Comics, Outpost 12, Captain Comics or Boise Bible College, all in Boise. 541-228-8007. Treasure Valley October - NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 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. Statewide October-December - "Take Your Turkey to Work." It's easy, it's fun and it will bring thousands of hungry Idaho families together for holiday meals. For information: www.idahofoodbank.org. Statewide October 1-24 - Ada County Association of Realtors' Make-a-Difference Day food drive. Judy McLaughlin, 947-7230. October 9 - Grand Opening of the Foodbank's new Pocatello facility, The Mayor's Award for the Arts and the start of our 25th anniversary year at The Idaho Foodbank, 555 S. First Ave. 233-8811. Southeast Idaho 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 11 - FarWest Harvest Festival, 5728 W. State St. Bring cans of food to support the Foodbank. Speed spitting, scavenger hunt, face painting, hay rides, best painted and carved pumpkin contest, apple tasting, farmers' market and drawing for $200 savings bond (ages 0-18). 853-4000. Treasure Valley October 11th - Mahler family eighth annual food drive and family carnival, 5-10 p.m., 1702 E. Picabo Court, to benefit the Foodbank. Vendors, craft table and music by The Ten Old Men Band. With a food or cash donation to the Foodbank receive free passes to the carnival and raffle tickets. Prize: tickets to A Chefs' Affaire 2009. 333-0866. Boise 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. Treasure Valley October 18 Barber to Boise Fun Run. 5K starts at Albertsons corporate offices at 9:30 a.m., 10K at 10 a.m. at Barber Park. Both conclude at Ann Morrison Park. Bring cans of food to drop at the start and finish of both races. 353-8983. Treasure Valley October 19 - Boise/Ada County 61st annual CROP Hunger Walk at Julia Davis Park's Gene Harris Band Shell. Live music will begin at 1 p.m., and the invigorating one-, three-, and six-mile walks along Boise's gorgeous Greenbelt start at 2 p.m. Last year CROP Walk raised $8,800 for the Foodbank. Ted Wimer at 922-9617 or teddy6w@peoplepc.com. Treasure Valley Nov. 8 - Scouting for Food. This is our second largest food drive of the year. Please place your bag of non-perishable food on your doorstep Saturday morning. Call 336-9643 for information. Treasure Valley November 28 - Empty Bowls. The 11th year for this popular community fundraiser in the Brick Oven Bistro patio adjacent to the Grove plaza. We are looking for 2,000 bowls, which will be sold for $10 and up. All come with a bowl of gourmet soup and bread. Bowls will come this year from Cape Cod to Caldwell. Call 336-9643 for information. Treasure Valley Your time and skills are like gold to us. Please volunteer now. Click here for information...

Thank you for supporting The Idaho Foodbank in the fight against hunger for the past 25 years. Idaho is the 13th hungriest state as measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has the sixth highest rate of childhood hunger. Your donations of time, food and cash meant that with the help of more than 200 partner agencies your Foodbank could distribute 5.56 million pounds of badly needed food to Idaho families in Fiscal 2008 and 70 million pounds since 1984.

Sincerely,
The Team at The Idaho Foodbank