BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — As Idaho students head back to class, The Idaho Foodbank is launching its Back to School Month Campaign to support children across the state who are food insecure.
The campaign is part of a statewide effort to raise awareness and funds for The Idaho Foodbank’s Backpack and School Pantry programs. According to Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap report, 18 percent of children in Idaho experience food insecurity.
The Idaho Foodbank’s Backpack and School Pantry programs are part of broader collaborative work aimed at helping Idaho children who are food insecure.
The Backpack Program is designed to ensure students have access to nutritious food over the weekend by sending home kid-friendly items at the end of the week during the school year. The bags include easy-to-prepare food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and are intended to fit into a child’s backpack. Last year, The Idaho Foodbank provided more than 80,000 backpacks for children in Idaho. Community members can support the effort by donating any amount to the Backpack Program.
The School Pantry program provides families with food through pantries located inside schools, offering convenient access for students and their families. The Idaho Foodbank supplies nutritious and staple food items to help stock pantry shelves. Last year, more than 23,000 households were supported by school pantries in Idaho.
“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.”
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