BLAINE COUNTY HUNGER COALITION INC
Programs
Food Access and Community Support
THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS A REPORTING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED FROM JULY 1, 2023 TO JUNE, 30 2024. THE LINGERING IMPACTS OF HIGH INFLATION AND A HOUSING CRISIS IN BLAINE COUNTY KEPT OUR NUMBERS HIGH DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. OVER 5,600 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN THAT TIMEFRAME, 42% OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN. 1. DIRECT FOOD ACCESS: OUR FOOD PANTRY CONSISTS OF FOOD RECOVERY, WAREHOUSING, DISTRIBUTION AND A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO EFFICIENTLY PROVIDE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS, SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS AND CARE FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. POST-PANDEMIC, WE SAW A CONTINUED INCREASE IN SERVICE NUMBERS FROM UNEXPECTED LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC. LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMBINED WITH SKYROCKETING INFLATION PUSHED LOCAL FAMILIES ALREADY REELING FROM THE PANDEMIC OVER THE EDGE. WE PROVIDED OVER 15,000 GROCERY CARTS TO OVER 3,000 PEOPLE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, HOLDING STEADY OVER THE PREVIOUS PERIOD. THANKS TO OUR FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS, ALMOST 170,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DONATED TO OUR FOOD PANTRY. ALTOGETHER, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 580,000 POUNDS OF FRESH AND NON-PERISHABLE FOODS THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY IN THE REPORTING PERIOD UTILIZING OVER 3,200 VOLUNTEER HOURS. OUR SUITE OF CHILDREN'S FOOD PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET CHILDREN'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AT A VARIETY OF AGES. THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO ENSURE 100% OF THE MOTHERS WHO REACHED OUT TO US HAD ACCESS TO THE FORMULA THEIR BABIES NEED. THE HUNGER COALITION GAVE OUT 227 CANS OF FORMULA TO 38 BABIES. THROUGH DAILY BITES, WE PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND SUMMER CAMPS. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 173,000 HEALTHY SNACKS AND FOOD ITEMS EACH WEEK TO KEEP CHILDREN FED, ACTIVE AND ENGAGED. WITH TEN SCHOOL LOCATIONS AND 12 AFTER-SCHOOL LOCATIONS, WE ESTIMATE SERVING OVER 1,700 CHILDREN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. BLOOM TRUCK IS A MOBILE LUNCH AND LIBRARY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY THAT PROVIDES FREE FOOD, FUN, AND READING FOR CHILDREN IN ISOLATED POCKETS OF BLAINE COUNTY. WITH SEVEN DIFFERENT MOBILE LOCATIONS OVER AN 11-WEEK PERIOD, WE SERVED OVER 4,300 HEALTHY LUNCHES TO 242 CHILDREN FROM CAREY TO KETCHUM. IN OUR NEW COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WE UTILIZED 1,105 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME TO SERVE OVER 8,600 COMMUNITY MEALS TO FAMILIES DURING OUR WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS WHILE THE COOKING CLUB MADE AND SHARED 890 MEALS TOGETHER. OUR HARVEST ENDS UP ON THE PLATES OF OUR FOOD INSECURE NEIGHBORS IN OUR FOOD PANTRY, OUR CHILDREN'S FOOD PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER FOR VEGGIES PROGRAM. OVER 3,400 POUNDS OF PRODUCE WERE GROWN IN OUR GARDEN AND AT OUR NEW GREENHOUSES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. ANOTHER 1150 LBS WERE GROWN IN COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL FARMER WITH THE HELP OF OUR STAFF. THIS SEASON WE CONTINUED TO HOST GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SUMMER CAMPS. THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED 18 DIFFERENT GROUPS TOTALING OVER 280 KIDS IN OUR GROWING SPACES. PARTICIPANTS TRADE HOURS OF LABOR ON BLOOM COMMUNITY FARM AND IN THE HOPE GARDEN FOR SHARES OF FRESH PRODUCE. THIS YEAR THE HOPE GARDEN HAD THE LARGEST, MOST CONSISTENT TURNOUT. OUR 130 VOLUNTEER FOR VEGGIES VOLUNTEERS LOGGED OVER 900 HOURS THE GREENHOUSES CONTRIBUTED TO THESE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EXTENDING OUR VOLUNTEER SEASON INTO THE WINTER MONTHS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.3MWrap Around Services and Community Leadership
2. WRAP AROUND SERVICES: PEOPLE NEED HELP WITH RESOURCES OTHER THAN FOOD. SUPPORT SERVICES IS ABLE TO REFER PARTICIPANTS TO 22 ORGANIZATIONS IN BLAINE COUNTY THAT CAN HELP WITH HOUSING, CHILDCARE, UTILITIES, MEDICAL BILLS, AND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES TO NAME A FEW. OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN BECOMING HEALTHY, THRIVING ADULTS. WE HELP TEENS DEVELOP SKILLS BY WORKING IN OUR PROGRAMS AND REDUCE THEIR VULNERABILITY TO FOOD INSECURITY. THIS YEAR, 5 TEENS COMPLETED THEIR 18-MONTH INTERNSHIP IN OCTOBER OF 2023. OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DOES MORE THAN BRING VOLUNTEER LABOR IN TO SUPPORT OUR CORE PROGRAMS, IT PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT AVENUE FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY AND BUILDING LEADERS. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OBJECTIVES FOR OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WITH SPECIFIC OUTCOMES TO REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND INCREASE CONNECTION TO A VARIETY OF SUPPORTS, INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF POVERTY AND FOOD SYSTEM ISSUES, CREATE INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION ON THOSE ISSUES AND TO INCREASE LEADERSHIP AMONG ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO INTERACT WITH THE BLOOM COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, 400 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 6,700 HOURS IN SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE BELIEVE THAT LASTING CHANGE COMES WHEN ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS' VOICES ARE HEARD AND VALUED IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. WE ARE INVESTING IN BUILDING LEADERS BY DEPLOYING A LEADERSHIP TRACK FOR RISING LEADERS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS; PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE OR JOINING BOARDS; OFFERING MENTORSHIP TO YOUNGER NONPROFITS TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL SERVICE ECOSYSTEM; AND ENGAGING WITH LOCAL LEADERS WHO THOUGHTFULLY AND CREATIVELY RISK-TAKE TO INNOVATE SOLUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S DEEPEST GAPS. STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CAN LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES IN AREAS LIKE EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALL IMPORTANT FACTORS IN FOOD SECURITY.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$818.6KAddressing Root Causes of Hunger
3. ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES: IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION OF A HUNGER FREE BLAINE COUNTY, WE ARE STRATEGICALLY ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSE ISSUES. OUR EFFORTS THROUGH OUR 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN ARE DEDICATED TO EXPLORING DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS THAT AFFECT GREATER, SYSTEMIC CHANGE. THROUGH THIS WORK, WE PRIORITIZE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OVER OUR INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION AND SHARE RESOURCES WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITIES. THE HUNGER COALITION TEAM ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER TO HELP PREVENT PEOPLE FROM NEEDING FOOD FROM OUR ORGANIZATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, OUR TEAM ADVOCATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DISTRIBUTED NONPARTISAN VOTER INFORMATION, LED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR SPANISH- SPEAKING COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATED FOR A BILINGUAL FAMILY LIAISON POSITION IN THE BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING, AND ENCOURAGED CONSTITUENTS TO SPEAK UP FOR SUMMER-EBT OR LUNCH MONEY FOR LOW-INCOME KIDS. IN THE LAST YEAR, 380 PEOPLE IN OUR CIRCLE HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER AS A RESULT OF OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS. THE PARTNER COLLABORATION PROGRAM UPHOLDS OUR MISSION TO IMPROVE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BY PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO KEY PARTNERS EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING IN ROOT CAUSE WORK. ROOT CAUSE WORK IS DEFINED AS ANY ACTIVITY RELATED TO AN UNDERLYING CAUSE OF FOOD INSECURITY, SUCH AS: HIGH COST OF LIVING, LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SYSTEMIC RACISM, DISCRIMINATION, IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL BURDENS, LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, ETC.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$849.8K
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