The Idaho Foodbank is pleased and grateful to announce a timely and generous $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to support both the Backpack Program and Cooking Matters.

The Backpack Program supplies nutritious, wholesome food over school-year weekends to children at risk of hunger when they do not have access to school food programs. There are currently 2,000 children who receive the weekly backpacks.

Cooking Matters is a free, six-week class that teaches parents and kids how to shop for and prepare healthy, inexpensive meals. The program was launched 20 years ago through the nonprofit Share Our Strength, and it now serves more than 11,000 families across the country.

Walmart is a national sponsor of Cooking Matters.

The Idaho Foodbank hopes to provide 14-15 Cooking Matters courses throughout the state in 2012.

The Foodbank is very thankful for this grant and the partnership with the Walmart Foundation.

There is more information about the Foodbank’s Backpack Program and Cooking Matters on The Idaho Foodbank’s website.

Will Benefit The Idaho Foodbank

What began in 1993 as a large picnic to foster camaraderie in the Treasure Valley’s growing African American community has become a Boise cultural and culinary tradition.

The 20^th annual Soul Food Extravaganza is set for Saturday, August 4, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., in Julia Davis Park at the Gene Harris Bandshell.

Part of the Extravaganza’s tradition is that it benefit Boise and Idaho charities. This year, The Idaho Foodbank is honored to be one of those beneficiaries.

From the beginning, organizers hoped the event would serve as a focal point to bring the Idaho community together so that black, white, Hispanic and other Treasure Valley cultures could mix, mingle and learn from each other.

The first picnic, at the Cathedral of the Rockies, drew about 100 people. In 1997, the Extravaganza moved to Julia Davis Park in order to accommodate the approximate 1,000 people who attended and the 700 meals served. This year’s projection for attendance is 10,000 to 12,000 people.

There is much more information on the Soul Food Extravaganza website, including more about the history, this year’s schedule of events, , the entertainment schedule and food vendors http://www.boisesoulfoodfestival.com/2012/04/04/food-vendors/

See you there!