Ivywild continues to be one of the most popular Picnic in the Park locations.

During its first three weeks, The Idaho Foodbank’s Picnic in the Park summer lunch program has nearly doubled the number of free lunches given out when compared to the same period last year.

In its first three weeks this year, the Foodbank summer staff handed out 17,570 free lunches compared to 9,005 in 2010, an increase of 8,565 or 95%. During the week of June 20-24, 6,549 free lunches went out compared to 3,056 during the third week in 2010. 

Winstead continues to be the most popular park with an average of 175 lunches per day.

This dramatic growth further supports the Foodbank’s new mobile delivery program. Of the 18 Picnic in the Park sites in Boise, 10 are mobile sites. Redwood Park was so busy – almost 100 lunches a day – last week it was converted from a mobile to stationary site.

The mobile sites are now at five parks, three apartment complexes or mobile home parks, and two schools. The stationary lunch sites are at five parks and three complexes. Horseshoe Bend School and Park also have lunch service.

Picnic in the Park will continue through August 17, except Monday, July 4. All children ages 1-18 are welcome. There is no paperwork to complete. Parents are welcome to purchase lunch for $1.

Our major partners this year are the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Idaho State Department of Education. Picnic in the Park also received support from ConAgra Foods, Share Our Strength, Champion Windows and Boise City Parks and Recreation.

For more information, including a complete list of Picnic in the Park sites, Boise and Meridian school districts’ sites, and all other lunch programs statewide www.idahofoodbank.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Biking for Backpacks, The Idaho Foodbank’s newest summer event, is all set for Saturday, August 13. Designed to be both fun and a fundraiser, it features a family-friendly 13-mile ride as well as a more adventurous 26-mile intermediate ride. Both start and end at the Foodbank warehouse in Pocatello.

This is the second year for this event, which supports and raises awareness for the Foodbank’s Backpack Program. The Backpack Program provides nutritious food for children at risk of hunger over school weekends. These are children who rely mainly on free or low-cost lunches on schooldays. The Backpack Program provides healthy weekend food and helps supplement the family’s food resources.

Sponsorship opportunities and individual ride registrations are available.  Contact Joye Jones, Branch Manager, at 208-233-8811 or jjones@idahofoodbank.org. Registration forms and more information about the Backpack Program are right here…