October is Hunger Awareness Month in Idaho and there are many ways to show support by joining one or more of the events planned by The Hunger Coalition.
"Kids Helping Kids" began on Monday and will run through Oct. 27. The Hunger Coalition and Council Circle are spreading awareness of hunger through a coin drive. Look for tin cans placed in businesses around the Wood River Valley.
Also running from Monday to Oct. 27 is the "Fall Corporate Food Drive." Last spring, seven businesses participated by donating food. New businesses are asked to challenge themselves by giving the most food and or money per employee. The Hunger Coalition Executive Director Jeanne Liston said the winner will receive the "highly coveted" Golden Can Award.
After several years of using spaces at the Health & Welfare office in Bellevue and beneath the Bank of America in Ketchum for storage, today, Oct. 15, The Hunger Coalition will move into a leased space in the Hailey airport industrial district.
"This warehouse will allow us to access larger quantities of food, including perishable items, which we can't currently handle," Liston said. "We are still fundraising to purchase a walk-in cooler and freezer, as well as a vehicle that will allow us to distribute food directly to those in need."
Thursday, Oct. 16, is "Skip A Meal or Fast for the Day." This second annual event encourages participants to "step into the shoes of a hungry person for a few hours by fasting for one meal or the entire day," Liston said. "By donating the money saved to the coalition, you'll be helping to fight hunger in your own community."
Then on Friday, Oct. 17, the first-ever "Dine Out Blaine County" will be held. By eating at one of the participating restaurants, diners can help fight childhood hunger in the community. The following restaurants will be donating a percentage of their proceeds to The Hunger Coalition:
· Rico's Pizza & Pasta, Main Street, Ketchum.
· The Roosevelt Tavern & Grille, Main Street, Ketchum.
· CK's Real Food, South Main Street, Hailey.
· Fresshies, South Main Street, Hailey.
· Sun Valley Brewery, Main Street, Hailey.
· Mahoney's Bar & Grill, South Main Street, Bellevue.
Then get ready to celebrate the harvest on Friday, Oct. 31, at the Community Campus, in Hailey. The entry fee for the Harvest Festival will be a donation of canned goods for The Hunger Coalition.
