It all started in the fall of 2003, when Tom Iselin founded the Blaine County Hunger Coalition in response to the lack of centralized food assistance in our community. Iselin published "Food Cards" directing people in both English and Spanish to community resources. With the help of three volunteers, $10,000 was raised in a door-to-door campaign. By February of 2004, we were able to initiate the Food Voucher Initiative, providing people in need with vouchers to local grocery stores, allowing them to purchase food for themselves and their family. With the help of other social service agencies and volunteers, we began asking the community to pitch in with Food Drives, collecting non-perishable food items. By the end of the year, our first food bank was established in the basement of the Bank of America building in Ketchum. Then things really started to get serious!
The Hunger Coalition Timeline:
2005
- June: The arrival of Yellow Food Drive Bins at local schools, churches, and businesses
- December: Atkinsons' Markets begins carrying Stop Hunger Cards and we implement the Infant Formula Initiative
2006
- May: South Valley Food Bank established in the Health & Welfare Building in Bellevue
2007
- January: "Summit on Hunger and Poverty in Blaine County" hosted by The Hunger Coalition
- April: Idaho's Statewide Taskforce Against Hunger established with participation of The Hunger Coalition
- July: First staff person hired, Jeanne Liston, Executive Director
- October: First Annual "Skip-a-Meal" event for Hunger Awareness Month
2008
- April: Local post offices participate in national Postal Food Drive with The Hunger Coalition as beneficiary
- May: First Spring Corporate Food Drive brings in more than 2,000 pounds of food
- June: Summer Food Program launched with Blaine County School District and our 1st Mobile Food Pantry distributes more than 20,000 pounds of food to feed approximately 575 people!
- September: Backpack Club Program initiated
- October: Second staff person hired, Food Program Manager Naomi Spence, and a larger Food Bank with office is established at a warehouse in Hailey. In addition, 2nd Annual Skip-A- Meal event is held and the first Dine Out Blaine County! event takes place
2009
- February: Mobile Food Bank launches, distributing food 3 - 4 times weekly in Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue and Carey with more than 300 people in attendance weekly
- March: Food Program Assistant hired to screen clients and provide important case management
- April: Awarded 'Ann & Doug Christensen Humanitarian of the Year' by Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center
- May: Awarded '2009 Non-profit of the Year' by Ketchum/Sun Valley Chamber & Visitor's Center
- October: New Food Bank purchased and remodeled for our permanent home in Bellevue!
2010
- March: Awarded stewardship of 10,000 square-foot lot in downtown Hailey to begin a productive, organic vegetable and fruit garden and build a community park, The Hope Garden! Hired Garden & Education Mana
ger to oversee implementation. - June: First harvest from The Hope Garden - lettuces and radishes for the Mobile Food Bank.
- August: Pilot program, Language in the Garden, introduced for clients and community members to work side by side while sharing in a language and culture exchange at The Hope Garden.
- September: First Annual Harvest of Hope Celebration
- October: Third Annual Dine Out Blaine County! brings together 28 restaurants from across the Wood River Valley in support of Hunger Awareness Month.
- November: The Hunger Project explores the experience of hunger and of receiving assistance from The Hunger Coalition.
2011
- February: Implementation of the Mentoring & Education Program creates an ongoing series of Educational Workshops, free and open to the public, and a 3-week Mentoring Course for clients.
- July: In response to continued growth & program development, the staff becomes a team of eight, working the equivalent of 6 full-time employees.
- August: The Second Annual Harvest of Hope Celebration!
- October: 4th Annual Fast for Hunger and Dine Out Blaine County! in recognition of Hunger Awaress Month. Walmart Associates award our largest grant ever, $100,000 providing the opportunity for both a Critical Needs Fund and Endowment Fund.
