Grants awarded to 26 groups statewide last year

During the Idaho Food Bank Fund’s first year, in 2010, generous taxpayers provided $82,100 to 26 nonprofit recipients. The hunger-relief organization grants ranged from Post Falls to Wendell, and included:

• $5,000 for a snack program at Oasis Worship and Food Center in Caldwell
• $3,200 to the Post Falls Food Bank to help fund fuel and electricity for food collection
• $1,500 for help with food purchases at the Community Kitchen in Idaho Falls.

On their 2010 returns, taxpayers again showed their generosity with donations of more than $80,000.

The Fund will accept grant applications from any Idaho nonprofit that provides hunger relief. This includes funding for emergency food purchases, assistance to expand capacities and funding for hunger-relief services and programs.

Qualified applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations but are not required to have any connection with Community Action Partnership of Idaho, Catholic Charities of Idaho or The Idaho Foodbank.

The grant submission period this year is July 1 through July 31. Grants are reviewed in August and September, and applicants are advised when the process is complete.

The Idaho Food Bank Fund was established by the 2009 Legislature as a cooperative effort between three well-respected statewide Idaho nonprofit organizations: The Idaho Foodbank, Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho and Catholic Charities of Idaho. The donation opportunity was on the Idaho State Income Tax Form 40, which allowed taxpayers to designate a dollar amount for the Fund.

For more information about the grants email grants@idahofoodbank.org. To learn more about the fund and view the public service announcement go to http://idahofoodbankfund.org/.