The Idaho Food Bank Fund is distributing grants to 34 organizations across the state working to solve hunger in Idaho.
Donations from Idaho taxpayers allowed the Fund's Executive Committee to distribute $110,000 this year compared to $88,000 last year.
Grants range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. All applicants were required to submit an application outlining what they would do with the funds.
The Caldwell Meals on Wheels programs is among the recipients this year for the first time, after applying several years in a row.
The program coordinator says the allotted $1,550 will go to replace storage coolers used daily to deliver meals to senior residents across Canyon County.
"They're getting pretty beat up and ragged, and I want to get more coolers that actually have rollers on them so some of our volunteers won't have to lift as much when they're delivering," Julie Warwick said. "A lot of my volunteers are the same age as the people we deliver meals to, mostly retired people over 60, and I want to make it a little easier for the volunteers, and keep the food in better condition as we deliver it as well."
Other Treasure Valley organizations benefiting this year include Community Council of Idaho in Caldwell, Life's Kitchen, The Caldwell Salvation Army, and several other local food pantries.
Since its inception, the fund has distributed $777,286.74 in 243 grants.
