News Clips From Idaho State Journal
Food Drive Event Set Monday
April 17, 2010 POCATELLO — The Feeding the 5,000 Families food
drive will be celebrating the closing of this year’s food drive on Monday. It
will be held at the Idaho Foodbank at 555 S. First Ave., beginning at 5:45 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Portneuf Valley Interfaith Fellowship.
The
closing celebration is open and free to the public, but if you can, bring a can
of vegetables and a can of chili to contribute to the Mulligan stew being cooked
by Dutch-Oven Delights.
The
Brothers of Jared, a family band, will offer praise songs at 5:45 p.m., and
Pastor Craig Strobel, First United Methodist Church, will offer the opening
prayer.
The
welcome will be made by the Feeding the 5,000 cochairs, Dawn McLaughlin and
Karla Reynolds.
Remarks from the Idaho Foodbank will be given by
Joye Jones, who is the eastern facility branch manager for the food bank.
Carl
Levenson, of Temple Emanuel, will give a Scripture reading from the Old
Testament and the Rev. Phil Meyer of the Faith Lutheran Church will provide the
message
. There will be a Feeding the
5,000 re-enactment by children from the Holy Spirit Catholic Community.
The
closing prayer and blessing on the food will be made by Karla Reynolds, Grace
Lutheran Church;
Glenda Hill, from the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Karen McCall, First United Methodist Church;
Jolene Barnett-Stephens, Community of Christ; Carol Young, Central Christian
Church; Bruce Corbridge
from the LDS faith; Lynda
Montgomery, First United Methodist Church; and Dawn McLaughlin, LDS.
The
blessing on the food will be made by Dr. Ed Jordan, of the Gate City Baptist
Church.  Diners are served at the LDS church on East Center Street recently as part of the rotating meal for The Feeding the 5,000 Families food drive event. The drive concludes this year with an event Monday at the Idaho Foodbank in Pocatello. |
Interfaith Prayer Service Set Tday
March 20, 2010 POCATELLO — The annual interfaith prayer service
hosted by the First Presbyterian Church in Pocatello, in conjunction
with feeding the 5,000 Families food drive, will
take place today beginning at noon and will last about an hour. The service will
include a multimedia presentation as well as a liturgy for all faiths to
participate. There will be silent times for prayer and reflection. The focus of
this prayer service is to bring awareness of hunger in our community and the
world.
There
will be displays showing how we as individuals and as communities can help to
eliminate hunger. The displays will include information about Bread for the
World and
the Interfaith Round Table on
Hunger. Roger Wheeler will be conducting the service. During the quiet times
candles will be lit and there will be comment sheets and prayer sheets provided.
The
church is located at 202 S. 7th Ave. and please call Melissa at 282-2274 for
more information. Please bring a can of food.
The
feeding the 5000 families food drive is currently going on and will run until
April 19. We have set a goal of 25,000 dollars and 25,000 pounds of food to
collect for the local agencies. Please check our Web site at feedingthe5000.org
for additional information. |
Fundraising dinner for food bank draws about 200
BY DEBBIE BRYCE (dbryce@journalnet.com) March 14, 2010 POCATELLO — About 200 people came out to support the Feeding the 5,000 Families food drive during a progressive dinner Saturday that kicked off with appetizers at the First Presbyterian Church at 202 S. Seventh Ave. Jolene Barnett, a member of the Community Church of Christ, said the food was great and so was the turnout.She said the Community Church of Christ has been involved in the annual food drive since its inception. "It’s just been a nice community event," Barnett said. "And it’s one of the longest-running food drives in the U.S." Following the first course, diners enjoyed soup and salad at the Central Christian Church, located at 918 E. Center St.
Karen Flicker from Grace Lutheran Church said the annual food drive is an important outreach for local churches. "I don’t like to see anyone go hungry," she said.
The interfaith event, currently in its 13th year, plans to raise 200,000 pounds of food to benefit the Idaho Foodbank. The cost for Saturday’s meal was $15 each or $25 per couple, with all proceeds going to the Idaho Foodbank. Eastern Idaho Administrator of the Idaho Foodbank Roy Lacey said for each dollar donated, the Idaho Foodbank can buy $5 worth of food. "It’s a huge part of the food drive," he said. Lacey said in Pocatello, the demand for food increased as the economy declined. "People who have donated to us in the past are now looking for help," Lacey said. Dawn McLaughlin from the Fourth Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints staffed the door Saturday. She said the progressive dinner grows in popularity each year.The main course — roast beef, potatoes and gravy, vegetables and rolls — was served at the LDS Caldwell Park Building at East Lewis Street and Seventh Avenue. McLaughlin said about 500 pounds of food was collected during Saturday’s event, in addition to the cash donations. About 20 local churches are involved in the annual food drive. Karen McCall and Linda Jones launched Feeding the 5,000 Families 13 years ago as part of a series of Sunday school lessons at the United Methodist Church. The classes traced the life and teachings of Christ. McCall said when it came to feeding the 5,000, the teachers decided to get the community involved. Eight local churches signed on that first year. Feeding the 5,000 Families food drive had collected 1 million pounds of food by its 10th anniversary.McCall said the progressive dinner was the brainchild of Eric Brown, former pastor at the United Methodist Church. The Portneuf Interfaith Fellowship donated meat for the dinner, which wrapped up with dessert hosted by the Holy Spirit Catholic Community in St. Anthony’s Chapel at 504 N. Seventh Ave. The First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church and Trinity Episcopal Church also took part in the dinner. Food items will be collected until March 31. A special prayer service is planned at the First Presbyterian Church March 20 and the Feeding the 5,000 Families food drive ends April 19 at the Idaho Foodbank.  Logan Henderson, left, and his sitster Cheris, are served at the LDS church on East Center Street as part of the rotating meal for Feeding the 5,000 Families food campaign here on Saturday. |
Fundraising dinner slated Event today will benefit food bank in Pocatello
BY JODEANE ALBRIGHT
jalbright@journalnet.com
|
Feeding the 5,000 Families dinner set today at Presbyterian Church
March 13, 2010 POCATELLO — Feeding the 5,000
Families food campaign will be holding its annual Interfaith Progressive
Dinner today.
It will begin at 5:30 p.m. with
appetizers hosted at the First Presbyterian Church, 202 S. Seventh Ave.,
followed at 6 p.m. with soup and salad hosted by the Central Christian
Church, located at 918 E. Center St., the main course will begin at 6:30
p.m., hosted by the LDS Caldwell Park Building, located at East Lewis
Street and Seventh Ave., and we will end the evening at 7 p.m. with
dessert hosted by Holy Spirit Catholic Community at the St. Anthony’s
Chapel, located 504 N. Seventh Ave.
Additional faith communities
involved in the dinner are First United Methodist, Grace Lutheran and
Trinity Episcopal. Proceeds from the progressive dinner go to the Idaho
Food Bank. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Tickets are
being sold prior to the dinner, with a limited number of tickets
available at the door. For more, call Dawn at 238-3540 or Karla at
637-0293.
|
Interfaith prayer service set at church March 20
March 13, 2010 POCATELLO — The annual interfaith
prayer service, hosted by the First Presbyterian Church, 202 S. Seventh
Ave. in Pocatello, in conjunction with Feeding the 5,000 families food
drive, will take place on Saturday, March 20, beginning at noon. It will
last about one hour.
Please call Melissa at 282-2274 for
more information. Please bring a can of food.
The Feeding the 5,000 Families food
drive is currently going on and will run until April 19. We have set a
goal of $25,000 and 25,000 pounds of food to collect for the local
agencies. Please check our Web site at feedingthe5000.org for additional
information.
|
Fundraiser Slated - Proceeds from Progressive Dinner March 13 will aid foodbank
POCATELLO — The Feeding the 5,000 Families food campaign will be holding its annual Interfaith Progressive Dinner on Saturday, March 13. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m., with appetizers hosted at the First Presbyterian Church, 202 S. Seventh Ave., followed at 6 p.m. with soup and salad hosted by the Central Christian Church, located at 918 E. Center St., the main course will begin at 6:30 p.m., hosted by the LDS Caldwell Park Building, located at East Lewis Street and Seventh Avenue, and at 7 p.m. there will be dessert hosted by Holy Spirit Catholic Community at the St. Anthony’s Chapel, located at 504 N. Seventh Ave. Musical entertainment will be at the Central Christian Church location during the soup and salad course, and there will be music at Holy Spirit Catholic Community at the St. Anthony Chapel along with the dessert course. Additional faith communities involved in the dinner are First United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church and Trinity Episcopal Church. Proceeds from the progressive dinner go to the Idaho Foodbank.  Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Tickets are being sold prior to the dinner, with a limited number of tickets available at the door. For additional information, please contact Dawn at 238-3540 or Karla at 637-0293. |
Feeding the 5,000 campaign to start
Annual event kicksoff Feb.20 with
concert
SUBMITTED BY PORTNEUF VALLEY
INTERFAITH FELLOWSHIP
POCATELLO — Feeding the 5,000
Families food campaign, an annual interfaith effort to combat hunger in
the community, begins with a kickoff concert Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at First
United Methodist Church, 200 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello. This is the 13th
anniversary of the concert.
There will be musicians and singers
from 12 different faith communities, and the program includes a piano
duet from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Sound-Scape, a quartet consisting of Mike Loudin, Heritage Baptist,
Steve Erlandson, Calvary Chapel, Gary Dunn, LDS and Christopher
Mydgyette, Methodist.
Also on the program will be Chase
Leavitt singing from the LDS faith community, Triston Krusoff, Temple
Emanuel, accompanied by Dorothy Frandsen, I Am Disciple and Donna
Grinzaffe, Methodist, Joyce Weaver, harpist from First
Presbyterian, Curtis Thompson,
guitarist from Calvary Chapel and Dereck Gregerson, singer, from Living
Waters Church. Brent Peterson, cello, ISU student, will perform, and
Allison Bangerter and Laura Larsen will do a piano duet.
The Trinity Episcopal Choir will
perform under the direction of Geoff Friedley and the Central Christian
Praise Team will sing as well.
Norma Boyd, from the LDS faith
community, will perform the theme song for this year, a song she wrote,
Geoff Friedley from Trinity
Episcopal, Britt Peterson, Idaho State University student, Reflections,
an interfaith women’s choir and the Cedar Second Ward Choir, with Lou
Ann Clausen, will take part.
The welcome will be by co-chairs
Dawn McLaughlin, LDS, and Karla Reynolds of Grace Lutheran Church. The
opening prayer will be given by Chris Guthrie, Living Waters Church, and
Roy Lacey of the Idaho Foodbank will provide the closing prayer. The
mayor’s proclamation will be by the Rev.
Roger Bray, Central Christian Church
and current city councilman.
There will be a Scripture reading by
Lynda Montgomery, First United Methodist Church, and Brandon Collett,
also from First United Methodist, will sing.
The concert is free and open to the
public. If you
can, bring a can or box of food for the Idaho Foodbank.
The concert will be followed by punch and cookies. For more information,
call Lynda at 233-3229 or Chris at 254-9223, or visit www.
feedingthe5000.org.JOURNAL FILE PHOTO Griffin Brown, 3, fills his dad’s plate with some appetizers in 2008 at the Central Christian Church during the first phase of the progressive dinner to benefit the Feeding the 5,000 charity. This year, the event kicks off on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Pocatello. |
Study finds big surge in Idahoans at risk - 02/04/2010
Roy Lacey, vice president of
operations for the Idaho Foodbank, talks at a press conference in the
Bannock County Commissioners chambers, Wednesday, outlining the upswing
in food that is needed this year as compared to previous years.
POCATELLO — One of the largest hunger studies ever conducted in the United States shows the number of people in Idaho who are at risk of going hungry has increased dramatically. The study showed 142,200 different people in Idaho received emergency food in 2009, a 59 percent increase from 2006. Particularly disturbing is the fact that 10 conference at the Bannock County Courthouse Wednesday. “We see men and women waiting in line in some instances up to three hours to get a food box.” The Idaho Foodbank provided emergency food an average of 24,000 times a month in East Idaho last year. Total pounds of food distributed by the food bank in East Idaho in 2009 increased 31 percent from 2008. The landmark study was released Wednesday by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Feeding America food banks, such as the Idaho Foodbank, provided free food assistance to 37 million people last year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. That’s a 46 percent increase from 2006. The study showed a dramatic growth of hunger in Idaho and across the country. According to the study, nearly one in 10 Idahoans receives emergency food. Only 36 percent of food bank recipient households in Idaho receive food stamps. The report was the first national research study to capture the connection between the recent economic downturn and the increased need for free emergency food assistance. Lacey said the Idaho Foodbank conducted a separate study in September and October that showed the problem is not improving. “Things are getting worse,” he said. Lacey and local city and county officials said the statistics should serve as a call to arms, to local government officials as well as private citizens. “We need to ask all the patrons of this county to step up and ... make sure we take care of people,” said Bannock County Commissioner Karl Anderson. The Idaho portion of the study was based on 509 in-person interviews at more than 40 locations and was conducted over a 12-week period between February and April 2009. It included 180 written surveys filled out by the Idaho Foodbank’s partner agencies. Guidelines for the study were set by the national independent research firm Mathematica, which also calculated the results and compiled the final reports. The study jibed with a USDA estimate in November that 144,000 Idahoans, including 65,500 children, were at risk of hunger. Lacey said donations to the Idaho Foodbank have increased recently, in spite of the bad economy. But it hasn’t been enough to keep up with the increased demand for emergency food. For example, the Idaho Foodbank distributed 6.3 million pounds of free food in 2008, 7.87 million pounds in 2009, and expects to distribute 8 million pounds this year. “We’re finding more food, but we’re also finding more people,” Lacey said. |
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