Help Idaho Kids Start the School Year Strong
More than 75,000 children in Idaho face food insecurity—meaning they don’t always have enough to eat to support a healthy, active life. Food insecurity impacts their ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Kids who don’t get enough nutritious food are more likely to fall behind in school, struggle with concentration, and face behavioral challenges.
At The Idaho Foodbank, we believe every child deserves the chance to succeed. That’s why we offer two key programs to specifically support children and families during the school year:
Backpack Program
At the end of the school week, children in need receive a bag of food that fits into their backpack— enough for two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and two snacks. The food is shelf-stable, nutritious, and easy to prepare, even if an adult isn’t around. In Fiscal Year 2025, we distributed over 68,000 backpacks across the state.
School Pantry Program
When we learned that kids were often sharing their food from the Backpack Program with siblings and parents, we knew we had to do more. That’s how the School Pantry Program began—bringing food directly into schools so families can access it in a safe, trusted space. Last year, 40 schools participated, distributing over 400,000 pounds of food and serving over 15,000 households.
Join Us: Back to School Campaign
We have heard from the teachers and school employees that they have seen improvements in focus, mood, and overall behavior when their students who are food insecure are part of our Backpack or School Pantry programs.
As kids head back to class, we’re raising funds to keep these programs going strong. Your support helps ensure Idaho children have the food they need—not just to survive, but to thrive.
Thanks to the Hansberger Foundation, Constance C. and Linwood A. Lacy, Jr. Foundation, Douglas and Meredith Carnahan, Donald Flora, and other friends of the Foodbank, all gifts up to $87,500 will be matched to support Back to School programming.
