By Lynea Petty, Food Production Manager Whew! First things first – just like the vegetables need more water in these temperatures, so do you! Stay hydrated and keep yourself sun protected! Out at Bloom Farm, we are harvesting what I like to call ‘all the heavy stuff’. This means: potatoes, summer squash, green beans, cucumbers, […]
By Lynea Petty, Food Production Manager Summer is here and I am late with this post! Out at Bloom Farm, we are harvesting lots and also continue to notice the difference between in-town Hailey growing, versus Quigley Canyon growing. Point being: what I write here is simply a guideline, and you will notice variations depending […]
Our strategic goals keep us driven, honest, and acutely aware of our impact. Led by our values, The Hunger Coalition will work to fulfill our vision responsibly through the credo below and ultimately improve the well-being of more families than ever. IMPACT Vision: The Hunger Coalition envisions a community where everyone has access to good food […]
You can shape our vision. Help us make Bloom Community Food Center something that people from from all walks of life will use to more deeply address the causes and effects of hunger. Our vision currently includes a community kitchen and dining area, next gen food pantry, heated greenhouses, and expanded farm and garden. These parts of the whole […]
Thanks to all of the local storytellers who have helped get the word out about this exciting next chapter. Read through the following articles to see the progress of our story or visit our social media pages for updates of the process. Hunger Coalition proceeds with $6 million development — Idaho Mountain Express, May 20, […]
Radical change is only possible with the support of our community. Thank you to the following donors who are investing in a stronger foundation and a more food secure future for local families. We are tremendously proud of our Board of Director’s collective commitment at the $1,000,000 level. In Kind Donors Anonymous (1)Benjamin W. Worst, […]
Lynea Petty, food production manager, shares Bloom Community Farm progress and how to prepare for the summer ahead. Hopefully you are enjoying a few fresh veggies from your gardens; we are! Arugula, mixed lettuce, baby turnips, radishes, baby bok choy, and green onions should all be complimenting your still sprouting asparagus right now. And if […]
Since the COVID-19 outbreak hit town and increased the need for emergency food threefold, you stepped up to ensure everyone in our community has the food they need to persevere. A million times thanks to the businesses, individuals, and groups who have donated to our emergency response. *COVID-19 Gifts given through Friday, October 23rd, 2020 […]
Lynea Petty, food production manager, shares some tips and tricks for gardening in the mountains in May. Well it sure got hot fast! We are about two weeks ahead on our planting schedule. We still need to watch for frost, but it sure has been satisfying to harvest first arugula leaves and radishes. However, the […]
Lynea Petty, food production manager, and our farm team have been hard at work to ensure The Hunger Coalition will still be able to provide harvest fresh food to local families this summer despite the COVID-19 outbreak. She shares her wisdom below to help us all cultivate a healthy harvest this year. From Lynea:It sure feels good to be […]
DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER If we are to see this crisis through and keep providing food for vulnerable families in Blaine County, everyone needs to do their part in staying safe, healthy, and eliminating risk for our neighbors. The Hunger Coalition is committed to taking every measure possible to flatten the curve and mitigate […]
The Hunger Coalition Opposes Proposed Federal Rule to Roll Back Nutrition Standards Bellevue, Idaho, March 6, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a proposed regulation that would rollback important aspects of the current school meal nutrition standards and significantly unravel the progress made under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. […]
By Lynea Petty, food production manager We are itching to begin plant starts this month! Here is what we will do each week, and remember to start about 15-20% more seed than you want. Reminder – all of the seeds this month will be seeded in soil (trays, pots, etc.) and live in a heated greenhouse. […]
In November 2019, The Hunger Coalition purchased a property where together, we will build a bold, new solution to hunger. We’re moving across the street from our current headquarters into a 13,000 sf building on four acres; a place where someday people from all walks of life can engage in a fresh approach to food […]
The Hunger Coalition’s 2019 Annual Goals Access Increase Food Access to 20% of the Blaine County population or 4,000 people, ensuring everyone has access to the healthy food they deserve. (FINAL: 4,044 people) Work with partners and schools to provide 25 safe, stigma-free access points of healthy food through our Children’s Food Programs. (FINAL: 28 […]
The holidays are past, but I feel similar anticipation as we await spring and make wish lists of plants we’d like to grow. This month, we ordered seeds for both the Bloom Farm and the Hope Garden. We mostly order from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, and the occasional item from Idaho-based Snake River Cooperative. We will […]
What an enjoya-bowl afternoon — thanks to everyone who turned out to this year’s Empty Bowls luncheon and helped raise a record $8,710! There’s just nothing sweeter than the coming together of good food, good art, and good people on behalf of a good cause. Thank you to all of the volunteers, attendees, and to Boulder Mountain Clayworks and Presbyterian […]
The Hunger Coalition’s 2020 Annual Goals Access Provide Food Access to 18% of the Blaine County population or 4,000 people, ensuring everyone has access to the healthy food they deserve. Work with partners and schools to provide 25 safe, stigma-free access points of healthy food through our Children’s Food Programs. Ensure 100% of parents who […]
We hope to see you at the 10th annual Empty Bowls event to enjoy great food and great art on behalf of The Hunger Coalition. Purchase a handmade ceramic bowl for $20 (or $10 for children 10 and under) and fill it with generous helpings of soup, chili, salad, bread, and dessert made by local […]
Watch the world premiere of the video below and make a gift to join Jeff, Vicki, and Tania as they lead us into the future of food security. If you give today, your gift will be doubled by the Heart of Gold – SPUR Community Foundation! 1 in 3 local people struggle to afford good […]
Good food provides security, even in total chaos. Harness the power of good food to ensure Jeff and thousands of local people don’t have to worry whether they’ll eat tomorrow with a gift. Click here to give and your gift will be doubled by the Heart of Gold – SPUR Community Foundation Challenge Grant.
The great Bekka Mongeau captured the festivities at our potluck party last month. Thank you Bekka and to everyone who turned out to celebrate our progress and look to the road ahead.
A letter to the editor prepared by The Hunger Coalition & The Alliance of Idaho We are standing up for fundamental American principles of fairness and justice in support of our immigrant and refugee friends, neighbors, and co-workers. The United States is a nation of immigrants, both voluntary and involuntary, and recognizing this fact, we […]
Dear Friends, With just two weeks and $3,783 left in our $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge, we need you. Our community is up against the odds. We have the eighth highest food costs in the nation, the ninth greatest wealth inequality, and wages have actually dropped in the last 10 years when adjusted for inflation. For every picnic at the […]
Wages in Blaine County have cratered, according to the Idaho Mountain Express, while the cost of living continues to soar. Along with personal challenges like medical bills, childcare, car repair, or sudden loss of a loved one, 38% of local people are considered food-insecure or one crisis away from it. In our community, the deck […]
Dear Friends, With June comes the start of our favorite programs: programs designed not only to distribute food, but to bring us together as neighbors. To blur the lines between our backgrounds and bank accounts and unite us over the shared joy of delicious meals. Lately, we’ve been learning how we can come together to take our […]
Dear Friends, There are people behind everything awesome about our community. Whether it’s a friendly face at the lift, behind the ticket counter, or serving up your favorite fare, everything we love about Blaine County is powered by the people. And yet, these faces of our community are working several jobs, burning the midnight oil, and still coming up short at […]
Dear Friends, Volunteering at The Hunger Coalition is not the most glamorous job. There are no membership perks or tax incentives. You may spend your time covered in dirt at Bloom Farm or up to your elbows in beets, ensuring our food pantry is stocked with fresh produce. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s such thing as a truly selfless […]
We each have our own fingerprint in the kitchen.Some of us throw ingredients together with abandon while others measure everything down to the quarter teaspoon. No one’s favorite meal is exactly the same and each cook excels in something different. When we come together to make a meal however, we learn to honor our differences in […]
What the kitchen means to us varies from person to person, place to place. Last month, our friends at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts inspired us to reflect on our experience in the kitchen as a part of their Kitchen as Home Exhibit. The kitchen is a loaded space. In the context of food insecurity, […]
Big goals are our North Star. Goals help turn our wildest dreams into action to ensure we have a lasting impact on our community. Check out our goals and accomplishments for 2019! Access Increase Food Access to 20% of the Blaine County population or 4,000 people, ensuring everyone has access to the healthy food they deserve. (FINAL: 4,044 people) Work with partners […]
What an incredi-bowl success! 300 people turned out to Empty Bowls and raised $6,670 to start 2019 on the right foot – one that’s moving toward food justice in Blaine County. Thank you to all of the volunteers, attendees, and to Boulder Mountain Clayworks and Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, as well as the following restaurants and chefs for making such a lovely afternoon […]
Join us for the 9th Annual Empty Bowls Event on Sunday, January 20th. Boulder Mountain Clayworks, The Hunger Coalition, and the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood are hosting the 9th Annual Empty Bowls event on Sunday, January 20 from 12 noon – 2 pm at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. During this […]
2018 was a pivotal year in the food justice movement. We’re thrilled to present the top 10 ways you helped move our community toward a healthier, happier tomorrow. None of this work, these happy stories, or encouraging stats would be possible without the generosity of our donors. You answered our year-end matching gift challenge to the […]
ISSUED: December 17, 2018 At The Hunger Coalition, our mission is to build a healthy community through access to good food and address the root causes of food insecurity in collaboration with key partners. In support of our mission and on behalf of the community we serve, The Hunger Coalition strongly opposed the steep budget […]
When we first heard about Bloom, we were excited to try it out. Bloom Truck has a fun learning activity in addition to food and books every week and my kids just love that. What I love most about the program is The Hunger Coalition grows all the vegetables they can locally and they don’t […]
Teo’s story is of roots, of rock, and of resilience. This tale of courage and determination against all odds will renew your faith in humanity and make you wanna hold your loved ones a little closer. With the help of good food and the places where good food grows, Teo faced the impossible. Watch […]
Assistant @ The Oasis in Bellevue End of Life Caregiver Dog Dad to Pickle and Gabe I moved up here when I was six years old from Boise to Picabo. It’s a beautiful little place. My father was the manager over at the old granary before it burned and my mother was the maid at […]
The mission of The Hunger Coalition is to build a healthy community through access to good food and address the root causes of food insecurity in collaboration with key partners. The Hunger Coalition is very concerned that the Trump Administration has proposed substantial changes to longstanding “public charge” rules which would be harmful to many […]
In a community as close in proximity as we are in spirit, we share a commitment to look out for one another. This sense of community shared by the people of Blaine County is especially important when the going gets tough. Because of challenges like the high cost of living in our resort community and a […]
Starting Wednesday, November 13 Women’s Group is all new! New hours! New location! New activities! Join this fun group of ladies from all walks of life to paint, cook, knit, and whatever else strikes their fancy this winter 🍲✨👩🏾🎨 Thank you, Flourish Foundation for sharing your space to make this program possible. Empezando mañana ¡Grupo de mujeres […]
In 2015, we conducted a thorough investigation of food in Blaine County. Learn more in the following report:
Your Voice Matters!!! The mid-term elections are on November 6th. Many local and state elections will be on the ballot. This is your right as a citizen to get involved and VOTE! If you haven’t registered, you can register on November 6th using an Idaho ID and proof of physical residency. LET’S RALLY AND VOTE […]
Sometimes you’ve got to turn your world on its head to see what’s underneath. Our staff felt a bit disoriented in the days following Dr. Robin DiAngelo’s presentations. As a racial justice trainer, she challenged our understanding of our institutions and explained how we play to them. It wasn’t particularly uplifting, nor was it meant to be. Instead, […]
In September, we celebrated the amazing members of our Good Food Community. Volunteers, donors, and participants came together over good food, drinks, games, and tours between the beautiful rows of The Hope Garden. Oh what a night! Extra special thanks to the following folks for making the party extra special: Sound System by Andy Ferguson […]
Join us Tuesday for a fun night at The Hope Garden! You are instrumental to the local food justice movement. Please join us so we can tip our hat to you for all that you do to ensure everyone in our community has access to good food. Enjoy snacks, drinks (FREE BEER thanks to Sawtooth […]
You can’t throw food at hunger and expect poverty to disappear. The Hunger Coalition has re-imagined the solution to food insecurity to reach further than the traditional food assistance model – one where a box of macaroni is expected to cure complex societal ills. One glaring ill is the injustice faced by communities of color. Racism still warps our institutions […]
What does food mean to you? For all of us, food means survival and for many, great joy. It’s essential to good health and connects us as people. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and yet, the issues surrounding food are maddeningly complex. The underlying causes of hunger go beyond an absence of food. Hunger prevails because of […]
A coalition of local nonprofits is pleased to present… An extraordinary opportunity for our community to come together and talk about racism as it relates to each of us and the role we might play in the problem. A coalition of local organizations and schools in Blaine County have come together to bring you an […]
Maryanna está orgullosa de Bloom Community Farm. “Cuando comenzamos, esto era pura yerba y suciedad”, sonríe. Mientras habla, las filas de repollo, col rizada, zanahorias, remolachas, cebollas, tomates y pimientos ilustran cuánto está creciendo. Antes de su pasantía en Bloom Youth Project, la familia de Maryanna apareció en nuestra serie de historias Food for Thought. […]
There’s not always a clear line between those who help and those who need help. Aaron is involved with The Hunger Coalition for several reasons. He’s made a life commitment to giving back. He’s strengthening his resume. He loves to cook. He loves to garden. And from time to time, he needs some help. In […]
Maryanna is proud of Bloom Community Farm. “When we first started, this was all weeds and dirt,” she grins. As she talks, the sweeping rows of cabbage, kale, carrots, beets, onions, tomatoes, and peppers illustrate how much she’s growing. Prior to her Bloom Youth Project internship, Maryanna’s family was featured in our Food for Thought […]
Change is an essential part of life. It makes way for growth and challenges us to adapt. It is as beautiful as the seasons and as important as human rights victories. The process can be uncomfortable at times but nevertheless, we change in order to move forward. The Hunger Coalition’s transformation began with a radical new solution to hunger and […]
Community voices can only drive change if someone is listening. We’ve made a special point to pause and listen this year and what we’ve heard has shaped our world. We are listening closely and sharing resources so participants can build the community they envision. Not only have folks who access food helped shape our message, advocacy work, and programs, but have begun to […]
Twelve years, three weekly food distributions, ten full-time staff members, and one million pounds of food later, we had only just begun. Though we were feeding more and more people, the root causes of hunger seemed to be getting deeper. This question led to a thorough investigation of food in Blaine County: The Community Food […]
In 2003, founder, Tom Iselin enlisted a scrappy, selfless team of volunteers to create a more concentrated solution to hunger in Blaine County. For a few years we collected and distributed food to families via community partners on a shoestring budget. Over time, we evolved into a choice based food pantry headquartered in […]
In 2016, we broke ground on Bloom Farm and hit the road with Bloom Truck. By 2017, Bloom Youth Project, Volunteer for Veggies, and a stronger Summer Food Program took flight. These programs complement our traditional food support programs to provide a more comprehensive solution to hunger in Blaine County. Our dreams were being […]
Semillas de la justicia alimentaria En 2003, el fundador, Tom Iselin alistó un equipo desinteresado de voluntarios para crear una solución más concentrada al hambre en Blaine County. Durante algunos años, recolectamos y distribuimos alimentos a las familias a través de socios comunitarios con un presupuesto reducido. Con el tiempo, nos convertimos en una […]
