Small Town News

An Easy Way to Help People: Check Line 39 on Your Tax Form

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Although April 15 is still a couple months away, this is the perfect time to support the non-profit groups and volunteers that help feed hungry Idahoans AND to feel good about preparing your taxes. When you fill out your 2011 Idaho state tax form, take advantage of the donation option to benefit the IDAHO FOOD BANK FUND.

Before you sign your Idaho State Income Tax Form 40, look at line 39 under "Donations." You will find a place to designate a dollar amount for the Idaho Food Bank Fund. The donated funds will go directly to fight hunger in communities across the state.

The Idaho Food Bank Fund was established by the 2009 Legislature as a cooperative effort between three well-respected statewide

Idaho nonprofit

organizations: Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho, Catholic Charities of Idaho and The Idaho Foodbank.

In its first two years, thanks to generous Idaho taxpayers, the Idaho Foodbank Fund has given out more than $169,000 in grants to fight hunger in Idaho.

Of the 25 Fund recipients last year, 13 were located in the Treasure Valley, including Mountain Home, Boise, Caldwell, Payette and Sweet. The grants paid for a wellness program

in Nampa, a new food pantry in Boise and food-purchase assistance at several pantries.

Any nonprofit in Idaho that deals with emergency food will be able to apply for an Idaho Food Bank Fund

grant to expand existing food-storage capacities and increase its support services related to hunger relief.

At The Idaho

Foodbank, our

distribution is up 90%, but the need still outpaces the food available.

Community pantries and kitchens are stretched to the limit. Those pantries are often run by volunteers, occupy small spaces and do not have adequate storage, refrigerator or freezer space. These limitations mean they cannot receive and store nutritious, perishable foods - including meat, dairy and produce - or even adequate amounts of long-lasting canned and dry food necessary to keep up with increasing need.

The Food Bank Fund can help alleviate these problems.



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