BLAINE COUNTY HUNGER COALITION INC

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS A REPORTING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025. THE LINGERING IMPACTS OF HIGH INFLATION AND A HOUSING CRISIS IN BLAINE COUNTY KEPT OUR NUMBERS HIGH DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. OVER 7,400 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN THAT TIMEFRAME, 56% 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. WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN SERVICE NUMBERS FROM UNEXPECTED LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC. LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMBINED WITH CONTINUED HIGH INFLATION, LOW WAGES AND HIGH FOOD COSTS CONTINUTE TO KEEP FAMILIES IN OUR SERICE LINES. WE PROVIDED OVER 17,000 GROCERY CARTS TO OVER 3,400 PEOPLE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS PERIOD. THANKS TO OUR FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS, ALMOST 227,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DONATED TO OUR FOOD PANTRY. ALTOGETHER, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 560,000 POUNDS OF FRESH AND NON-PERISHABLE FOODS THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY IN THE REPORTING PERIOD UTILIZING OVER 3,800 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 341 CANS OF FORMULA TO 46 BABIES. THROUGH DAILY BITES, WE PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND SUMMER CAMPS. DURING THE JULY 1 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025 PERIOD WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 175,000 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 EIGHT DIFFERENT MOBILE LOCATIONS OVER AN 11 -WEEK PERIOD, WE SERVED OVER 3,600 HEALTHY LUNCHES TO 257 CHILDREN FROM CAREY TO KETCHUM. IN OUR NEW COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WE UTILIZED 1,400 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME TO SERVE OVER 9,600 COMMUNITY MEALS TO FAMILIES DURING OUR WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS WHILE THE COOKING CLUB MADE AND SHARED 900 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 6,100 POUNDS OF PRODUCE WERE GROWN IN OUR GARDEN AND AT OUR NEW GREENHOUSES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. THIS SEASON WE CONTINUED TO HOST GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SUMMER CAMPS. THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED 13 DIFFERENT GROUPS TOTALING OVER 240 KIDS IN OUR GROWING SPACES. PARTICIPANTS TRADE HOURS OF LABOR ON BLOOM COMMUNITY FARM AND IN THE HOPE GARDEN FOR SHARES OF FRESH PRODUCE. OUR 130 VOLUNTEER FOR VEGGIES VOLUNTEERS LOGGED OVER 750 HOURS. THE GREENHOUSES CONTRIBUTED TO THESE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EXTENDING OUR VOLUNTEER SEASON INTO THE WINTER MONTHS.

2. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: PEOPLE NEED HELP WITH RESOURCES OTHER THAN FOOD. SUPPORT SERVICES IS ABLE TO REFER PARTICIPANTS TO 25 ORGANIZATIONS IN BLAINE COUNTY THAT CAN HELP WITH HOUSING, CHILDCARE, UTILITIES, MEDICAL BILLS, AND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES TO NAME A FEW. OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DOES MORE THAN BRING VOLUNTEER LABOR IN TO SUPPORT OUR CORE PROGRAMS, 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, 720 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 7,100 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.