LemhiWeb

The Idaho Food Bank Fund announced in October that it will distribute almost $91,000 among its second-year grant recipients.

            The 25 nonprofit recipients ranged from Coeur d’Alene to Salmon Assembly of God and Boise to Shelley, with grants that include bulk meat purchase in Coeur d’Alene, a walk-in freezer in Jerome, additional freezer storage space in Salmon and food purchases statewide.

            The Idaho Food Bank Fund was established by the 2009 Legislature as a cooperative effort between three well-respected statewide Idaho nonprofit organizations: The Idaho Food Bank, Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho and Catholic Charities of Idaho. The donation opportunity was on the 2010 Idaho State Income Tax Form 40, which allowed taxpayers to designate a dollar amount for the Fund. 

            The Fund accepted grant applications between July 1 and July 31 from any Idaho nonprofit that provided hunger relief. The grant funds were targeted at projects that would expand existing food storage or distribution capacities or otherwise increase support services related to hunger relief in Idaho.

            Taxpayers’ generosity allowed the Fund’s Executive Committee to distribute $90,978.04, up from $78,100 last year. The stated purpose of the Fund allows food providers to request funding for emergency food purchases, assistance to expand capacities and funding for hunger relief services and programs.

            With the demand for emergency food at The Idaho Food Bank up 93% in the past four years, the resources of food providers large and small are stretched badly. In some cases, people are being turned away. The Idaho Food Bank Fund’s goal is to provide critically needed financial assistance and to provide immediate help to the nonprofits that our hungry Idaho neighbors need.

            Jimmie Bartlett, the Salmon Assembly of God food bank director was ecstatic about the new freezer.  The 76 cubic foot freezer doubles the churches ability to give frozen foods such as baked goods, french-fries, soups, TV dinners and other donated items to people in need.  In 2010 Salmon Assembly of God distributed 14,000 lbs of food to Lemhi County residents.  The distributions are the third Thursday of each month from 5 to 6:30pm.

Picture: Jimmie Bartlett and Pastor Bruce Murphy with new freezer