According to the latest Map the Meal Gap report, it is estimated that 1 in 8 Idaho children may experience food insecurity this year. Food insecurity is more than having basic human needs go unmet – it has profound implications for education, health and quality of life. Most of us can understand the fear and stress that accompanies hunger, but there are unique challenges when a child is experiencing hunger.
Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (FMRI) recently honored The Idaho Foodbank with the inaugural Community Partnership Award for its effort to help those with food insecurity in the Treasure Valley.
We are in the middle of harvest season and our warehouse features a good variety of local produce. From the orchard in Caldwell, the pears are full and plentiful. Plums are also abundant. This season, we are starting to receive early onions from harvests that will continue for the coming months. We also have peaches that will be on their way to The Idaho Foodbank. Thank you to Idaho’s hard-working farmers for their generous donations.
Troy Food Bank, nestled in the hills in North Central Idaho, enjoys a picturesque landscape with beautiful small-town charm. June Miner and Leitha Witt are working to change the food landscape for community members. The pantry, located in the 100-year-old Seventh Day Adventist Church, is small but mighty.
The Idaho Foodbank facility in Pocatello recently hosted their first Family Day of Volunteering. This was an opportunity for families with children as young as four years old to volunteer at the warehouse.
The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced an update to the Thrifty Food Plan. The Thrifty Food Plan is used to calculate SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. SNAP is also referred to as food stamps. This Thrifty Food Plan update was required by the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. This modernizes SNAP to reflect healthy eating recommendations and food prices.
Crisp, sweet, and nutritious apples. They can be sliced, diced, and paired with delicious dipping sauces. Incorporating this nutrient-dense fruit in our diets can aid everything from digestion to protection against free radicals (cancer-causing molecules). Eating apples is a great way to incorporate more fiber, potassium, and vitamin C into our diet. In combination with a balanced diet, these nutrients can aid in chronic illness prevention. Apples are an easy, healthy snack with vast benefits!
September’s Staff Spotlight is on Rhoda Hall, who works in the Gift Processing Department in Meridian.
