About the Food Bank
Established in November of 2008, Teton Valley's Rotary Food Bank is the first year-round food bank to serve Teton Valley residents in need. While the Rotary Club initiated the project, representatives from St. Francis Church in Alta, Wyo. were instrumental in organizing the effort. The Church provided administrative and bookkeeping services. In November 2010, the Food Bank move
d from St. Francis Church to its current location in Driggs, Idaho. The new location enabled us to create a “Food Bank Store”, where people could choose their food, picking the food from the shelves just like at the grocery store. The amount of food given is dependent on the size of the family. According to the Idaho Food Bank, this is the only food bank in the state that is set up like a store. Teton Valley Health Care partnered with the Food Bank to provide it’s current location. The property, owned by TV Health Care (formerly the Home Health Center) provides a more central location for distribution to folks in need. The Food Bank is intended to be used as a temporary emergency source of food, although no one is turned away. The Food Bank works on the honor system. It is not our place to judge who is in need and who is not. We have a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere during distribution, where almost every one knows one another. This atmosphere lends to feelings of camaraderie and fellowship among all members. In early 2012, Teton Valley Food Bank received 501©3 status from the IRS and became its own non-profit with its own governing board. While the Teton Valley Rotary and St. Francis Church are still involved in the Food Bank, it is now a self supporting and stand alone non-profit organization. The Food Bank is supported through out the community; businesses, non-profits, church groups and local citizens all pitch in to hold food drives, volunteer during distribution nights and volunteer to re-stock the shelves. Funding for the Food Bank comes largely the Annual Tin Cup Challenge, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, as well funding from Teton County, Idaho, and individual donations and grants.