Grant will support food bank’s school Backpack, School Pantry, Picnic in the Park and Cooking Matters programs
BOISE, Idaho (Oct. 6, 2016) — This week, the Idaho Foodbank celebrated receiving a $90,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. This grant will support the Idaho Foodbank’s nutritional services programs, such as its Backpack, School Pantry, Picnic in the Park, and Cooking Matters programs.
“This grant from the Walmart Foundation will make a tremendous difference for Idahoans dealing with food insecurity,” said Karen Vauk, Idaho Foodbank CEO. “We currently serve more than 160,000 people each month, and support like this really helps us best serve those needs in our state.”
Data from the national hunger organization Feeding America shows that more than 250,000 Idahoans are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from, including 21.1% of Idaho’s children.
"The Idaho Foodbank does a tremendous job serving families in our region, especially children," said Tory Nichols, Walmart market manager. "As the largest grocer in the country, Walmart is uniquely positioned to help make an impact on hunger in our community. We are proud to support the work of the Idaho Foodbank and join with them in the fight against hunger."
Programs supported in this grant include:
- Backpack program, which provides food insecure children with a backpack filled with non-perishable foods to help students get through weekends. The packs include two breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks to help bridge the gap.
- School Pantry program, operates food pantries at schools to offer families access to staples such as meat, rice, beans and a growing selection of fresh produce.
- Picnic in the Park, provides low-income children in the Boise area with a free and healthy lunch each weekday during the summer.
- Cooking Matters, teaches participants how to buy and prepare healthy meals on a limited budget. Volunteer chefs and nutritionists teach this six-week program.
Grant funds will be used to purchase food to support these Nutritional Services programs.
About the Idaho Foodbank:
The Idaho Foodbank is an independent, donor-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1984, and is the largest distributor of free food assistance in Idaho. From warehouses in Boise, Lewiston and Pocatello, the Foodbank has distributed more than 151 million pounds of food to Idaho families through a network of more than 230 community-based partners. These include rescue missions, church pantries, emergency shelters and community kitchens. The Foodbank also operates direct-service programs that promote healthy families and communities through good nutrition. http://idahofoodbank.org/
About Philanthropy at Walmart:
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. We have stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. We are helping people live better by accelerating upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where we operate and inspiring our associates to give back. Whether it is helping to lead the fight against hunger in the United States with $2 billion in cash and in-kind donations or supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment through a series of grants totaling $10 million to the Women in Factories training program in Bangladesh, China, India and Central America, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are not only working to tackle key social issues, we are also collaborating with others to inspire solutions for long-lasting systemic change. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit www.foundation.walmart.com.
