Twelve-year-old donates 600 eggs in time for Easter

The Idaho Foodbank in Pocatello received a large donation of eggs Friday from a local business owner. However, the business owner is 12 years old, and he donated 50 dozen – 600 – eggs.

“I mean, look how large that is,” said Rebecca Ristrem, the eastern Idaho branch manager, holding up one of the eggs.

Paul Desfosses, owner and operator of Little Paul’s Big Eggs, said they just had a lot of eggs this year.

“We had an overabundance of eggs and we didn’t have much to do with them,” said Desfosses, “so we decided to give them to the foodbank.”

His father said he thought to donate the eggs all by himself.

“The foodbank just sounded like the right thing to do because there are a lot of families out there that are barely getting by,” said Desfosses. “So we decided to give them to the foodbank because that’s the Christian thing to do.”

Ristrem said they are very grateful for donation, but there is a process to accept foods like eggs and other perishable items.

“Of course, our No. 1 priority is food safety,” Ristrem said. “There are certain areas we need to abide by in order to accept the eggs.”

She said she was very grateful Desfosses met all the requirements, because eggs are a very sought-after item.

“We don’t get a lot of them, so this is a wonderful and very exciting donation,” Ristrem said. “And the fact that he’s 12 and thinking about giving back to our community, that was the amazing part for me.”

Desfosses said he doesn’t want to play video games like other kids his age. He wants to be a farmer.

“There’s plenty to do in 60 acres,” he said.

If you want to donate items like this that are perishable, call the foodbank at 208-233-8811. Listed below is a quick description from the Idaho Foodbank about what kinds of eggs they can accept.

1. Yes, we can accept eggs from an individual as long as they have under 300 hens.

2. We ask that they label the cartons with their contact information, or label the cartons with their name and have the proper documentation on hand at the Foodbank, so all of their contact information corresponds with the name on the carton. (For tracking purposes, if anything should happen regarding outbreak etc.)

3. All cartons must be marked “Ungraded”

4. All eggs must be properly temperature checked and handled at receiving (45 degrees or less.)