POCATELLO — The Idaho Foodbank has launched its Back-to-School Campaign for August as part of a statewide effort to support children facing food insecurity.
The monthlong campaign aims to raise money and awareness for the foodbank’s Backpack and School Pantry programs.
According to Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap report, 17 percent of children in East Idaho experience food insecurity, the Idaho Foodbank said in a news release.
The Backpack Program provides food-insecure students with nutritious, kid-friendly meals to take home at the end of each school week, ensuring they have access to food over the weekend.
The bags include easy-to-prepare items for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Last year, the foodbank distributed more than 23,500 backpacks to children in East Idaho.
The School Pantry program stocks food pantries inside schools, giving families convenient access to groceries. School pantries served more than 23,000 households across Idaho last year, according to the foodbank.
Community members can donate any amount to support the two programs. Idaho Central Credit Union is the statewide presenting sponsor of the campaign, and Paul Anderson radio stations are also partnering with the foodbank to promote it.
“Our Backpack and School Pantry programs have a significant impact on the lives of Idaho children and their families,” said Randy Ford, president and CEO of the Idaho Foodbank. “We are proud of our collaboration with schools that allow us to work together to help children in need have access to nutritious food.”
Bayer Fund, the philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., recently awarded the foodbank a $12,000 grant to support the Backpack Program, aiding efforts to ensure East Idaho children have food when school is not in session.
“Bayer Fund is proud to continue supporting the Idaho Foodbank’s Back-to-School Campaign and their ongoing efforts to address food insecurity across the state,” said Amy Simpson, Bayer Fund’s director of philanthropy and community impact. “Our longstanding partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping children and families access nutritious food when they need it most. We’re honored to support The Idaho Foodbank’s work to strengthen communities and create lasting impact across Idaho.”
More information on the programs and how to donate is available at idahofoodbank.org/backtoschool.
