Submitted by Teton Valley Food Pantry
This piece was originally published in the April 14, 2016 issue of the Teton Valley News as part of the weekly Nonprofit Spotlight presented by the Community Foundation of Teton Valley.
Teton Valley Food Pantry serves to provide an emergency food source for local low-income families. The goal of Teton Valley Food Pantry is to alleviate hunger by soliciting and collecting food for distribution to those in need. We work to create community partnerships with individuals, schools, organizations, clubs, churches and businesses in Teton Valley. We strive to ensure that each person who lives with food insecurity has healthy food available. In 2015, the Food Pantry served 955 families, totaling 3,397 individual distributions.
The Food Pantry is open for food distribution two Wednesday evenings each month from 6 to 7:30 pm at our Driggs site at 341 N 1st. A special food distribution for seniors, 60 and above (CSFP) is held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm. Advance notice is needed for this program. We partner with the Idaho Food Bank on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm for a distribution called the mobile pantry, which takes place at the Driggs LDS Stake auditorium (pre-registration at least 1 week ahead is necessary to receive food from the mobile pantry). A calender of all distributions for the entire year is given to recipients, posted in our site window and available on our website: tetonvalleyfoodpantry.com. All distributions are open to anyone in need who resides in Teton Valley. Applications are available on distribution days. Emergency distribution is also available by calling Sharon Froberg at 208-399-2020.
The Food Pantry site is one of the few food pantries in the state that is set up like a grocery store, where visitors can choose from a variety of food choices. Our shelves are stocked with food from the Idaho Food Bank, individual donations and food collected at various local food drives conducted by the Boy Scouts, local schools, churches, businesses and service organizations. Food drop bins for non-perishable foods are located at Broulims, Kings, Victor Valley Market, Barrels & Bins and at our site. Perishable foods may be dropped off at the Food Pantry site on Tuesdays from 12 to 1 pm.
Support from Teton County, Idaho, Teton Valley Hospital, Tin Cup Challenge, grants and individual donations help to cover administrative costs and purchase additional food. A cash donation box is located at Broulim’s Grocery at the Customer Service Counter.
The Food Pantry would not be viable without our volunteer base; which is made up of community members. Each month a different organization, service club, church or business volunteers to help on distribution days. Driggs LDS Church volunteers assist with the mobile pantry.
The Food Pantry was started in 2009 with a partnership between St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church and the Rotary Club of Teton Valley. Food Pantry Coordinator, Sharon Froberg, was hired in 2012, when the Food Pantry moved to its current location in Driggs and obtained 501(c)(3) status. Sharon spends countless hours with our volunteers and partners to ensure that there is a healthy variety of foods available and that everyone in need is served. The Teton Valley Food Pantry is truly a community organization. Join us in helping to alleviate hunger in Teton Valley.
If you are affiliated with a Teton Valley nonprofit, we want to hear from you! Help us share why Teton Valley nonprofits matter. Each week, the Community Foundation will highlight a local nonprofit in the pages of the Teton Valley News. Email Dawn Banks, Marketing and Programs Director, at dbanks@cftetonvalley.org or call 208.354.0230. We look forward to helping share your story! Join in the conversation on social media with #WhyItMatters
