Christine Bird (center) of Western States Equipment, stopped by to drop off a check for $1,000 to kick off the company's third annual Dump Hunger campaign. Karen Vauk (left), the Foodbank's President and CEO, and Terry Graves (right), Food Resources Manager, were the happy recipients.

 

Campaign Aims to Raise 225,000 Pounds for Local Food Banks During Key

Post-Holiday Timeframe

 Western States Equipment and Albertsons have teamed up again to raise food, funds and awareness during the most challenging time of year for food banks across the Intermountain West, including The Idaho Foodbank.

The “Dump Hunger” campaign hopes to generate 225,000 pounds of food by Monday, Feb. 7, the time period following the holiday season. Food donations can be taken to any of the Western States branch locations or participating Albertsons stores. Cash donations are accepted only at Western States locations and The Idaho Foodbank.

“Hunger impacts every community and doesn’t stop after the holidays,” said Western States President Tom Harris. “’Dump Hunger’ was created to rally our employees, customers and partners together to fill the shelves of our area food banks. It also reflects Western States’ commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and serve.”

“Albertsons is committed to fighting hunger in our communities, and we’re excited to find a partner in Western States that shares our passion,” noted Mike Clawson, President of Albertsons Intermountain West and a member of the Foodbank’s Board of Directors. “We look to build on the momentum from last year’s successful Dump Hunger campaign by being involved for all five weeks and generating additional awareness at our stores with some exciting plans ahead.”

Dump Hunger seeks to secure enough food to fill the bed of three CAT 730 dump trucks, the industry’s largest payload vehicle in its class, which are individually capable of holding 75,000 pounds of food. Given the increasing number of households facing food insecurity, the goal of the Dump Hunger campaign has increased by 75,000 pounds for 2011, or the capacity of one CAT 730 dump truck.

“January and February are difficult months because donations slow down but the need stays high,” said Karen Vauk, President and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank. “Last year we dropped from 1 million pounds donated in December to 568,899 pounds in January. That is why Dump Hunger is so important to thousands of Idaho families, children and seniors. We are very grateful to Western States for this extraordinary drive. It couldn’t come at a better time.”

In addition to customer food donations, Albertsons will contribute $20,000 in food items to the participating food bank partners involved with Dump Hunger. Western States will contribute $1 for every five pounds of food collected up to a $15,000 dollar match.

There are drop-off locations in the following cities: Ammon, Boise, Caldwell, Chubbuck, Eagle, Emmett, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello, Rexburg, Shelley and Twin Falls. For a complete list of sites, see the Dump Hunger website.

Nick Thomas, 9, of Boise, sets aside a portion of his allowance for charity. Over the past couple months he saved up $13 he wanted to donate to the Foodbank. He got a tour of the warehouse and was very happy to learn that his donation would feed a family of four for three days.

D.A. Davidson in Lewiston donated $1,000 as part of the company's 75th anniversary. The funds went toward the "Hope for the Holidays" turkey drive.

The Idaho Foodbank is proud and grateful to announce the following grants:

• The Camille Beckman Foundation awarded $30,000 to support general operations.
• Albertsons/SuperValu awarded $15,000 to support equipment needs for the Grocery Alliance Program.
• Wells Fargo Advisors awarded $8,500 to support the Backpack Program in the Boise School District.
• Boise Legacy Constructors Foundation awarded $5,000 to support the Backpack Program.
• The Urquidi-Laidlaw Gift Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation granted $1,000 to support the Foodbank’s general operations.
• On Saturday, Dec. 18, some 300 “Holiday Heroes” stepped up at Rosauers in Lewiston to buy groceries for families in need. Shoppers bought 300 bags of groceries for $20 each and donated them to The Idaho Foodbank.
• At the Humanitarian Bowl’s Bowling for Beef promotion at Westy’s Garden Lanes in Garden City, the Northern Illinois football team knocked down 522 pins, which Certified Angus Beef turned into 522 pounds of ground beef. Food Services of America added another 100 pounds of beef to bring the total to 622 pounds.