BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Foodbank saw an immediate increase in the need for food as Idahoans lost their jobs or were laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, the Foodbank has spent $900,000 buying food to give to people facing food insecurity. To put that in perspective, during a regular year, the organization will only supplement donations by buying $200,000 worth of food.
"The food just wasn't there for it to be donated," said Karen Vauk, The Idaho Foodbank President. "Keep in mind, we receive food donations by the truckload. So these are large volume donations. So with the interruption with the donated food supply, we needed food immediately and our only choice was to start purchasing food."
So here is where we can help out. We asked you to raise $10,000 in a week, and you helped raise $8,000 in just 24 hours. We at Idaho News 6 and the Scripps Howard Foundation are so overwhelmed by your generosity that the foundation is kicking in an additional $2,000, bringing the total we will match up to $12,000.
Please help us meet our new goal by going to idahonews6.com/donate. Hunger does not take a summer break.
