Story of the Summit
In October of 2006, the first-ever statewide Summit on Hunger and Food Insecurity was held in Boise. It was the first time our faith leaders, charitable emergency food providers, state and local government, health providers, advocacy groups, business and industry, and community members gathered together to learn of hunger and food insecurity issues in Idaho and to craft solutions appropriate to Idaho. Over 260 people from 23 Idaho counties, 37 Idaho cities, two tribes, and 6 neighboring states traveled to Boise to talk about hunger in Idaho and craft ‘next steps.’
The second statewide Hunger Summit was held in 2008 and again was attended by people across Idaho and neighboring states. These summits are organized to produce “next steps” that are measurable
1. Removing the vehicle rule and asset test for food stamp eligibility
2. Strengthening Idaho’s grocery tax credit
3. Creating a statewide task force on hunger relief
4. Educating and engaging Idahoans in the reauthorization of the child nutrition act/WIC
5. Combining food stamp and Medicare Part D (LIS) outreach to benefit Idaho seniors, to name a few.