Local Food Pantries Feed Local Families
The Idaho Foodbank, which is the largest distributor of food to local food pantries in the State of Idaho, receives five percent of its funding from the Federal Government. That money comes to the State of Idaho and is then given to the Idaho Foodbank.
The rest of their funding comes from donations by individuals, corporations, and organizations.
Theresa Vawter, who is in charge of public relations for the Idaho Foodbank in our area, said 95% of their inventory comes from personal money and food donations and that includes large donations of say apples and potatoes from area farmers.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, in 2024 in the State of Idaho, a thrifty cost of feeding a family of four is $976.60 per month. A more liberal cost of feeding the same family would be $1,555.20 per month.
Council, New Meadows, and Cambridge Food Pantries all receive food from the Idaho Foodbank.
In Council, there is a five-member board that oversees the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
Marge Freedman, one of those board members, said that Loaves and Fishes Pantry operates with the help of many volunteers.
It is located in a building next to the Nazarene Church on Illinois Ave. They receive regular food deliveries on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from the Idaho Foodbank. Distribution takes place on the 3rd Thursday of each month between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. There are no requirements to receive a box of food, unlike Food Stamps, which require extensive documentation of income and assets.
Also, you do not need to have made an earlier request for food; you can just show up on distribution day, but if you wish to make a food or monetary donation and need to call someone, the contact phone number for Loaves and Fishes is (208) 253-6000. That number is also posted on the building.
Freedman said that typically, Loaves and Fishes Pantry prepares boxes of food for 75 to 80 families. She said that around the holidays, there is always a need for turkeys, but that in the past two years, the Idaho Foodbank has not been able to supply them.
Because they get two deliveries a month, they are equipped with three full-sized refrigerators and five freezers.
Vawter said that it is difficult for their organization to provide animal protein, but they are able to offer other kinds of protein like canned and dried beans.
Freedman said that some years, Loaves and Fishes Pantry has been able to purchase turkeys for some of their regular recipients. “We also have some people who donate turkeys some years,” she said.
She said that in general, the only meat they have been able to get from the Idaho Foodbank is hamburger and that only rarely.
Because they use federal funding, they have to abide by federal law, which would not allow them to take a half a side of beef that a rancher may wish to donate unless it was slaughtered and packaged under USDA regulations.
In most cases people must come pick up food boxes, but Freedman said they deliver about 10 boxes to seniors or other people who are homebound.
She said one group of volunteers boxes the groceries and another group distributes them.
In New Meadows, Maralee and Jeff Cross have been in charge of food distribution, which takes place at the United Methodist Church on the Saturday after the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Their Idaho Foodbank truck only comes once a month.
Maralee said that typically, they feed 35 to 40 families, but between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that number jumps to 70 families.
People who wish to donate cash can send their donation to The New Meadows Food Bank, P.O. Box 189, New Meadows, Idaho 83654.
Those who wish to make canned food contributions can drop them off at Idaho First Bank, if the weather is too cold to leave canned goods outside the church.
The Crosses said that many of their volunteers are from the United Methodist Church. They have been in charge of the operation since 2010.
“In the past, we received a grant from the Idaho Foodbank which enabled us to purchase freezers, and we often purchase food in Meridian that we cannot get through the Idaho Foodbank,” Maralee said.
They also receive money from the Meadows Valley Public Library who puts on Food for Fines during the month of October. Those who owe the library money for overdue or lost books may instead pay with canned goods.
In Cambridge, food distribution takes place at the Senior Center on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
According to Lynda Yoder, who is in charge, they typically feed 20 to 25 families a month.
Those who wish to donate canned goods may drop them off at the Senior Center until 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and on Wednesday and Friday, when the Senior Center is open longer, they can drop off food later. It is best to call first.
Those wishing to donate money can send it to The Senior Center, P.O. Box 57, Cambridge, Idaho 83610.
