More donations needed for Upper Valley Pantry

The Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Rexburg needs your help.

With school being out for the summer, many families find it hard to manage the extra expenses of child care while working, and this time of year can be a difficult time to put food on the table.

For Marie Adams, the food bank helps this full-time student and mother of four. “It’s providing for our families and not for the lack of trying or for hard work, but sometimes when you pay the bills, basic necessities, your money is gone.”

The food bank can really help when there isn’t enough money left over for things like laundry soap and toilet paper.

Adams’ says, “The food bank really helps and comes into play when you can’t and you are that amount short- four or five dollars short on a paycheck, you can come here and know that you can grab some green beans, laundry soap or toothbrushes, and it’s something you don’t have to worry about.”

The city of Rexburg and the Upper Valley are generous when it comes to filling the shelves, but Madison County has the highest poverty rate in the state.

Jay Doman, CEO of EICAP says, “There is food available to supply the pantry with- we were aware of that, but the issue we have with food delivered is that there is a cost to that, and there should be a cost because the Idaho Food Bank has to house that food. They have to transport it and there is a cost associated with it.”

And that’s a big concern.

Currently, food donations are down, but the problem lies with the cost of transportation and getting the food trucked in.

Doman says, “If we receive enough donations we can set up a fund aside that would allow us to pay for that transportation cost for the Idaho Food Bank, and then that food would come from them and we would pay the shipping cost.”

EICAP currently has a contract with the Idaho Food Bank in Salmon and Challis with a stream of funds to cover deliveries, but Rexburg falls short.

“We have a very robust and good relationship with the Idaho Food Bank, and would love to figure out a way to enhance our service,” says Doman.

EICAP is looking for volunteers and monetary donations so they can continue to help local families in Madison County. For details on how you can get involved– go HERE.