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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Providing Hope for Hungry Idaho Families

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Monday, November 28, 2016   

LEWISTON, Idaho – Holidays traditionally are times for family festivities, and that usually means having siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles crowded around the dinner table. However, some Idaho families will struggle to put food on that table. According to Feeding America, one in six Idahoans struggles with hunger.

Chico McKinney, branch manager of the Idaho Foodbank's Lewiston location, said during the holiday season, more families reach out for help because of the added stress of costly festivities.

"This puts an added strain on people's grocery budgets," McKinney said, "So there's definitely a higher increase of food assistance requests during the last two months."

The Idaho Foodbank is hosting events across the state for its "Hope for the Holidays" food drive, with the goal of collecting 2.5 million meals through December. The organization also is looking to collect 5,000 holiday meats during the drive.

Although there are signs of an improving economy in many parts of the country, McKinney said many Idahoans still are struggling. Many also find themselves in the unfamiliar position of reaching out for help.

"In this region especially, with such a large timber and lumber industry, and some of the mills are in decline or closing, people are still losing their jobs, people are still out of work," he explained. "And some people that were gainfully employed, had a nice vehicle and had a nice house and things, are looking for work and needing assistance."

According to McKinney, the north central branch of Idaho Food Bank serves about 17,000 food-insecure people each month.


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