Published Media - Local & National News

•  September 26, 2011:  The Nation’s Unemployment Landscape  -  The recession and the slow recovery have reshaped the nation’s economic map, with the highest unemployment rates now found in the West and the South.  Click Here for Link to Map

•  September 26, 2011:  Deep Recession Sharply Altered U.S. Jobless Map  -  When the unemployment rate rose in most states last month, it underscored the extent to which the deep recession, the anemic recovery and the lingering crisis of joblessness are beginning to reshape the nation’s economic map. (Read More)

• September 20, 2011:  Idaho WIC program is among Top3 in the nation for breast-feeding rates  -  The Idaho Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program was awarded a $1.1 million high-performance bonus for attaining one of the highest breast-feeding rates in the nation.  The bonus from the U.S. Deptartment of Agriculture recognizes Idaho for having one of the Top 3 breast-feeding rates in the nation, with 32 percent of Idaho WIC-enrolled infants being fully breast-fed.  (Read more)

• September 13, 2011:  Soaring Poverty Casts Spotlight on 'Lost Decade' - Anoth er 2.6 million people slipped into poverty in the United states last year, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday, and the number of Americans living below the official poverty line, 46.2 million people was the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has been pubilshing figures on it.  New York Times

• September 7, 2011:  USDA: Increased Food Aid Kept Hunger Rate Steady' - Despite the bad ecnomoy, the number of Americans who struggle to get enough to eat did not grow last year, and in some cases, declined, according to  new government data.  National Public Radio  Read More or hear the NPR Broadcast Here

• May 12, 2010:  Garden and Education Manager To Coordinate New Hailey Project - The Hunger Coalition is excited to introduce Hallie Reikowsky as Garden and Education Manager, a new position created to oversee the coordination of clients and community members at the new Hailey-based garden. Sun Valley Online

• August 4, 2010:  Idaho's Bounty & The Advocates' Collaboration Leads to $1500 in Food for Hunger Coalition -  The Advocates' Raffle Prize Winners Richard and Judith Smooke Donate $1500 Idaho's Bounty Gift Certificate to feed the hungry . . . Read More at  Sun Valley Online     View another article at  Mountain Express

• July 29, 2010:Culture and Language at The Garden  -  The Hunger Coalition Introduces "Language in the Garden" on Monday Evenings . . . Read More at Sun Valley Online    

• July 25, 2010:  America Now: Friends and Neighbors  -  How Do You Choose Between Paying Your Bills and Feeding Your Kids?  By Ann Curry

All across America, it is happening.  People are hurting.  For some, this economy may be around.  But millions of families are at risk of going hungry in one of the richest nations on earth.  The number of Americans visiting local food pantries has jumped 30 percent in the past two years alone.  And here, in this rural region of Ohio, the very heart of America, the need is especailly urgent . . . the stories poignent.   Read More at  NBC Dateline         

NBC News Dateline:   Video Pres entation

• July 2010:  Local Heroes  -  Hunger Where It Doesn't Belong  By Zana Davey & Pamela Mason Davey

Jeanne Liston wishes she were out of a job.  As executive director of The Hunger Coalition, that would mean she accomplished her organization’s mission: to end hunger in Blaine County.  Until that day, however, The Hunger Coalition is trying to keep pace with needs that grow daily.  Read Mora at Sun Valley Magazine

Sun Valley Online

Good Food and Good Fun for Blaine County Kids
June 7, 2010
By The Hunger Coalition
The Hunger Coalition teams up again with the Blaine County School District to sponsor The Lunch Connection, offering free meals to kids during the summer.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
Women's Foundation Gives $89,500 to Blaine County Nonprofits
June 4, 2010
By Jo Murray
The Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation has announced grants totaling $89,500 to seven Wood River Valley nonprofits, ranging from The Hunger Coalition to Habitat for Humanity.
Read More

Idaho Statesman
Idaho food Stamp surge tops nation
June 4, 2010
By Anna Webb
Forty million Americans - more than ever before received food stamps in March.  That's up 21 percent from a year ago, and 1.2 percent from February, according to the Department of Agriculture.  And Idaho's 43 percent increase in food stamp usage over the past year is the largest in the United States.  Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
Hunger Coalition appoints manager
May 19, 2010
By Staff Writer
Hallie Reikowsky will oversee the coordination of clients and community members as the garden and education manager for the Hunger Coalition's community garden in Hailey. Reikowsky will work with clients, schools, students groups, community organizations and valley non-profits to help people grow their own food in an "outdoor" classroom environment. Reikowsky seeks volunteers and anyone interested in contributing their gardening expertise in creating and maintaining the garden. In addition, donations for the garden will be accepted. The Garden Wish List is online at thehungercoalition.org. For details, email hreikowsky@thehungercoalition.org or call 788-0121.

The Weekly Paper
Spring food drive for Golden Can Award
May 19, 2010
By Weekly Staff Writer
The Hunger Coalition announces the start of its annual Spring Corporate Food Drive, beginning may 17th and continuing through May 28th. Challenging businesses in Blaine County to motivate their employees and patrons to contribute . . .
Read More

Sun Valley Online
Garden and Education Manager To Coordinate New Hailey Project
May 12, 2010
By The Hunger Coalition
The Hunger Coalition is excited to introduce Hallie Reikowsky as Garden and Education Manager, a new position created to oversee the coordination of clients and community members at the new Hailey-based garden. The recently unveiled garden design incorporates productive garden beds along with demonstration beds and native landscaping in a community outreach effort by The Hunger Coalition.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
Postal Service Food Drive Wants to Deliver: Hunger Coalition needs donations
April 30, 2010
By Sabina Dana Plasse
The economy may be improving according to national news sources and publications, but in Blaine County people are still going hungry. Raising community awareness about hunger in the U.S., the Postal Food Drive for the Hungry is a national food drive campaign to generate donations for distributing food to the hungry, including those in Blaine County.
Read More

SunValleyOnline.com
Fish for a Cause
April 12, 2010
By The Hunger Coalition
(Bellevue, Idaho)
Bellevue, Idaho – Hearing about The Hunger's Coalition's need for donations, local fishing guide John Huber used his knowledge of our regional fishing industry to come up with a fantastic plan for feeding the hungry. A fabulous resource for fresh fish existed in the incredibly high numbers of steelhead trout returning this year to spawn, a resource he could tap. With a phone call to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery, his idea would become reality. . . .

SunValleyOnline.com
Donation Shortage Worries Hunger Coalition
March 20, 2010
By The Hunger Coalition
(Bellevue, Idaho)
Bellevue, Idaho – Spring is definitely in the air, but the economic picture for many is not so rosy. According to Hunger in Idaho 2010, a landmark study released by the Idaho Foodbank this month, 34% of Idahoans choose between paying their rent or mortgage and paying for food. Blaine County is no exception . . .
Read More

SunValleyOnline.com
Community Workshop for new park in Hailey
February 23, 2010
By smartgrowth
(Hailey, Idaho)
Hailey, Idaho – No longer occupied by a jail, the lot next to the Old County Courthouse has exciting potential as a new community park, including a productive garden and a demonstration area with native and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Read More

Mountain Express
Hunger Coalition to manage Hailey community garden
February 17, 2010
By Jon Duval
(Hailey, Idaho)
A new community garden took another step toward becoming a reality with The Hunger Coalition stepping in to manage the downtown Hailey site. The Blaine County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a proposal that would put the Hailey-based Hunger Coalition in charge of a garden to be built on the corner of Walnut Street and First Avenue.
Read More

Boise State Radio
Voices of Hunger
February 4, 2010
By Cameron Dufty
(Boise, Idaho)
The Idaho Food Bank released a report Wednesday outlining the startling hunger situation in Idaho. According to the report, 142 thousand Idahoans are receiving help to feed their families. That's a big number. But it's just a number. Hunger is more than statistics. These are some of the voices behind the numbers.
Listen

Times-News Magic Valley
More of your neighbors can't put food on the table
January 19, 2010
EDITORIAL
If you've got a job and can provide for your family, it's easy to forget how many south-central Idahoans can't. A New York Times survey of food stamp use published Monday contained some eye-opening statistics about Idaho counties.
Read More

Times-News Magic Valley
Blaine County Hunger Coalition to expand services
December 21, 2009
By Karen Bossick
The Hunger Coalition in Blaine County just got bigger. The nonprofit just took residence in a new location and plans to be able to feed more people. The staff recently finished moving into new digs at 121 Honeysuckle St. in Bellevue’s industrial district.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
Hunger Coalition Moves to a Permanent Location
November 2, 2009
By Shannon Sullivan
The Blaine County Hunger Coalition purchased a permanent home in Bellevue last week for its warehouse and offices. The Coalition’s mission is to feed the hungry by providing wholesome food and by promoting solutions to the underlying causes of hunger. More
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
Community Dinners Give and Receive
October 23, 2009
It wasn't too hot in the kitchen for Wood River Middle School seventh - and eighth graders at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hailey on a Monday night in mid-October.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
Dine Out to Feed the Hungry
October 14, 2009
This Thursday and Friday join The Hunger Coalition and make a difference in someone's life!
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Group ramps up effort to feed hungry"
Blaine County Hunger Coalition Says many of its stockpiles are low
October 9, 2009
Hunger is far from the thoughts or sight of most Wood River Valley Residents. However, The Hunger Coalition is concerned about people going hungry in the coming winter months.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Grow A Row Program benefits many in the Wood River Valley"
September 4, 2009
The Hunger Coalition has had to fill a large role in the community this past year with many valley residents suffering from declining incomes and job losses.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Hunger Coalition Hits Jackpot. Non-profit wins $10,000 shopping spree at Atkinsons'"
July 20, 2009
The Blaine County Hunger Coalition won a $10,000 gift certificate at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley's annual fundraising benefit, Dog Days of Summer, on Friday, July 17, at the Trail Creek Pavilion in Sun Valley.
Read More

Times-News
"How Giving Erases the Humilitation of Taking"
By Ariel Hansen, July 19, 2009
HAILEY - In one moment, Wally Miller goes from volunteer to father in need. He hands over his punch card and reiterates: "Wally Miller, single, two kids, 17 and 16." Then he gets in line to pick out bags of pasta and produce from the folding tables in the parking lot.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
Womens Foundation Presents Fourth Year of Grants
July 15, 2009
The Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation presented its fourth year of grants, totaling $102,000, to seven Wood River Valley nonprofits on Tuesday at the Valley Club.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Womens Foundation Gives $102,000 To Blaine County Organizations"
By Jo Murray
July 15, 2009
The Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation yesterday presented grants totaling $102,000 to seven Wood River Valley nonprofits, ranging from The Advocates women's economics program to Council Circle youth activities.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Local Markets Pitch In to Help Fight Hunger in Blaine County"
June 30, 2009
The young mother standing in line to receive food at The Hunger Coalition's Mobile Food Bank was amazed to see the bounty of fresh food being offered to her and her children.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Local grocers step up donations to the Hunger Coalition"
Atkinson’s Market and Albertson’s grocery store participate to feed hungry
June 26, 2009
Atkinsons Market and Albertson's grocery stores are pitching in to help the Blaine County Hunger Coalition, which has seen an increased demand for food donations due to the recession.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Idaho's Kids Among the Most Hungry"
June 4, 2009
Idaho is being assailed for the 16% of all Idaho kids on hunger relief programs and praised for improvemenst in reducing the number of kids in that predicament.
Read More

The Weekly Paper
"Golden Can Award to Rocky Mountain Hardware"
May 13, 2009
The Hunger Coalition announces the winner of its bi-annual Corporate Food Drive Competition.
Read More

The Weekly Paper
"Community Award Winners Step into the Spotlight"
Non-profit of the Year, May 6, 2009
A passion to make things better. For all of us.
Read More

The Weekly Paper
"Letter Carriers Food Drive"
May 6, 2009
Wood River Valley post offices are asking postal customers "to help the hungry" and donate to the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive across America on Saturday, May 9.
Download pdf document

The Weekly Paper
"Paws for Hunger"
May 6, 2009
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley in conjunction with the Hunger Coalition, just launched its new program, "Paws for Hunger."
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"SVKCB-Hailey Chamber Awards Announced"
Apr 14, 2009
The Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors have jointly selected the recipients of the 2009 Wood River Valley Community Awards. These seven winners will be honored at a special cocktail reception at The Elkhorn Springs Restaurant on May 8th beginning at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and reservations can be made by contacting Nichole Britt at the Sun Valley/Ketchum CVB, 725-2103.
Read More

Times-News
"Hunger Battle Grows in Blaine County. Coalition expands services in face of growing need for food."
April 13, 2009
Naomi Spence's eyes brimmed with tears as she surveyed the line of people before her. The Blaine County Hunger Coalition's new mobile food bank, stationed in the parking lot outside the Ketchum YMCA in late February, was down to its last few cans of food. Yet, people kept coming. "It was overwhelming," said the food program manager for Blaine County's Hunger Coalition. "In our first three days we served 200 families and handed out more than 5,200 pounds of food - what we had been giving out in one month. And you could tell people were panicked for fear we would run out before they got any. You could see that urgency in their eyes."
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Hunger Coalition Wins Humanitarian Award"
April 3, 2009
Light on the Mountain Spiritual Center to present award at annual luncheon. The 2009 Light on the Mountain Spiritual Center's Ann and Doug Christensen Humanitarian Award will be awarded to the nonprofit Hunger Coalition at a luncheon at the Sun Valley Limelight Room on April 11.
Read More

Idaho Mountain Express
"Demand For Food Help Soars"
Feb 27, 2009
A surging demand for food assistance in the Wood River Valley threatens to overwhelm the Hunger Coalition, which is shuffling its mobile food bank program to keep up with the need. "We had no idea the need was as big as it is," said coalition Director Jeanne Liston. "Things are changing by the hour."
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Hunger Coalition Shifts into Gear with new Mobile Food Bank"
Feb 17, 2009
The Hunger Coalition of Blaine County is responding to the slowing economy by directly distributing food through its new mobile food bank. This shift in organizational strategy will immediately benefit local people and families in need of assistance. With the loss of so many jobs, a growing number of residents are finding that they are unable to meet Blaine County’s exceedingly high cost of living.
Read More

Idaho Statesman
"Survey Reflects Idaho's Rapid Downturn"
Feb 3, 2009
More than twice as many Idahoans are unemployed than were a year ago. One in every 479 homes is in some stage of foreclosure. And food stamp usage has bloomed by more than 25 percent. Altogether, Idaho's brisk and sudden downturn makes it one of the most economically stressed states in the country, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation report.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Hunger is Real in Blaine County"
September 12, 2008
Here in prosperous, even luxurious Blaine County, Idaho, home to world famous Sun Valley, many find it hard to understand there is real hunger here. The facts, however, are real: One child in three arrives at school hungry and qualified for lunch at a reduced price or free of charge. It may be the child's best meal of the day.
Read More

Wood River Journal
"Hunger is Taking its Toll"
Jul 2, 2008
More and more people are going hungry in Blaine County as food and gas prices skyrocket and local agencies are having a hard time keeping up. Increased needs in the county have driven the Hunger Coalition, a nonprofit agency based in Hailey, to seek a location for a local food bank, said coalition executive director Jeanne Liston.
Read More

Sun Valley Online
"Mobile Food Pantry Huge Success"
Jun 30, 2008
The Blaine County Hunger Coalition helped hand out over 20,000 pounds of food last Saturday in Hailey. The Coalition teamed up with two Boise-based organizations - Freedom Resource Center and the Idaho Foodbank - to give away free food baskets.
Read More

Sun Valley Magazine
"Booktalk"
Elizabeth Coleman
Winter 2008
JEANNE LISTON has a passion for making the world a better place. Since moving to the Wood River Valley in 1999, she has worked for various non-profit organizations - including the Environmental Resource Center, The Nature Conservancy and, currently, The Blaine County Hunger Coalition.
Download pdf document

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National News

New York Times
"Wal-Mart Gives $2 Billion to Fight Hunger"
By Stephanie Strom
May 12, 2010
The Wal-Mart Corporation announced plans on Wednesday to contribute $2 billion in cash and food to the nation’s food banks, one of the largest corporate gifts on record.
Read More Here

National Public Radio
"Photographer Captures Stark Portraits of Hunger"
By Mary Beth Kirchner
March 30, 2010
Countless people have experienced deep losses of their jobs, savings and homes — and often, along with these losses comes hunger. It's perhaps the least visible loss, but it's as powerfully felt.
Read More
Listen Here to the "All Things Considered" radio broadcast

New York Times
"Food Stamp Use Soars - And Stigma Fades"
Jason DeParle & Robert Gebeloff
November 28, 2009
With food stamp use at record highs and climbing every month, a program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.
Read More

Politics Daily
"Record Number of U.S. Families 'Food Insecure' "
Ria Misra, November 16, 2009
A new study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday reveals that 14.6 percent of American households -- about 17 million -- are "food insecure," meaning they can't afford a healthful diet or lack dependable access to food.
Read More

CBS News - Video
"Food Stamps - Economic Spark?"
Terrell Brown
August 2, 2009
Families on food stamps have been reaping the benefits of the stimulus package which gave poor families more food stamp money. As Terrell Brown reports in this video, this could be a spark that ignites businesses.
View Video

Huffington Post
"5-year-old Girl Feeds Nearly 18,000 Hungry San Franciscans; What Can You Do?"
Toan Lam
July 25, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO -- Little Phoebe, from San Francisco, California has a big heart. That's an understatement. Actually, her kindness and compassion is bigger than most grown ups I've crossed paths with while reporting TV news for nearly a decade.
Read More

OregonLive.Com
"Report: Idaho improves but still lagging on hunger"
The Associated Press
June 03, 2009
BOISE -- A new study ranks Idaho among the 10 worst states for the percentage of hungry kids younger than 5. But the study also says Idaho is among 10 states showing the most improvement in combating child hunger.
Read More

CNN
"Stimulus: Can It Feed the Hungry?"
Dave Goldman
Feb 24, 2009
For Jesse Taylor, the debate over the federal stimulus plan wasn't about politicians trying to score points or economists parsing the unemployment rate. It was about the growing ranks of hungry people lining up outside his Harlem food pantry. We're in the midst of a perfect storm: We've received budget cuts, we've seen an increase in the number of people coming in, and we've seen the cost of food going up," said Taylor, senior director of Community Kitchen, a food pantry and soup kitchen run by the New York City Food Bank.
Read More

New York Times
"Newly Poor Swell Lines at Food Banks"
Julie Bosman
Feb 19, 2009
Once a crutch for the most needy, food pantries have responded to the deepening recession by opening their doors to what Rosemary Gilmartin, who runs the Interfaith Food Pantry here, described as “the next layer of people” — a rapidly expanding roster of child-care workers, nurse’s aides, real estate agents and secretaries facing a financial crisis for the first time. Demand at food banks across the country increased by 30 percent in 2008 from the previous year
Read More

New York Times
"When the Cupboard is Bare"
David Cay Johnston
Nov 10, 2008
REBECCA MUSCARELLO had long worked as a secretary, so she never imagined that at age 35 she would be left with no choice but to take her two children to a food pantry to get groceries. But like a growing number of Americans whose jobs have evaporated in a shrinking economy, Ms. Muscarello ran out of money and then food.
Read More

USA Today
"New Breed of American Emerges in Need of Food"
Richard Wolf,
May 19, 2008
Philomena Gist understands why it hurts so much to be on food stamps. After all, she's got a master's degree in psychology. "There's pride in being able to take care of yourself," says the Columbus, Ohio, resident, laid off last year from a mortgage company and living on workers' compensation benefits while recovering from surgery. "I'm not supposed to be in this condition." Neither are many of the 27.5 million Americans relying on government aid to keep food on their tables amid unemployment and rising prices. Read More

New York Times
"Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts"
Katie Zezima
Nov 30, 2007
Food banks around the country are reporting critical shortages that have forced them to ration supplies, distribute staples usually reserved for disaster relief and in some instances close.
Read More

Newsweek
"Blessed is the Full Plate"
Anna Quindlen
Nov 26, 2007
A terrible shortage of food for the poor grips the country. Where is the political will to do the right thing for the hungry?
Read More

NPR
"Role of Food Banks Scrutinized in the U.S."
Mark Winne
Nov 21, 2007
According to government statistics an estimated 35 million Americans are food insecure - meaning their access to enough food is limited by a lack of money and other resources. The findings prompt many to analyze the role of food banks in American cities. Author Mark Winne and Thea Washington, a food bank client, discuss about whether food banks are really helping to end hunger.
Listen to interview

America's Second Harvest News Release
"As Thanksgiving Nears, the Cupboards of Millions Are Bare"
Nov 14, 2007
Today, as many of us are planning menus and deciding which holiday gatherings to attend, the United States Department of Agriculture released a sobering reminder that millions of Americans are making decisions between rent, utilities, medicine and the most basic necessity -- food. Its annual study of hunger in America indicates the number of people living at the margins of hunger, struggling to makes ends meet and put food on the table, has increased from 35.1 to more than 35.5 million, including 12.6 million children.
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