Community Food Basket Idaho Falls (CFBIF) is excited to announce that it has purchased their food storage warehouse and launched an 18-month capital campaign to pay off the building loan. After 41 years of service to East Idaho communities and multiple food storage locations, CFBIF is now the proud owner of their food storage warehouse located at 1895 N. Blvd in Idaho Falls. A legacy gift to the community, this warehouse stores both dry and refrigerated food items, along with a Diaper Bank and newly organized mattress program.

Because our warehouse is secure, clean, organized, and accessible, we have become a storage point for several smaller pantries throughout East Idaho. We currently store food for four (4) other nonprofits who distribute the food through their own programs. Community Food Basket also stores food for our sister organization, the Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen, which serves a hot meal daily seven days per week, 364 days per year.

“After moving several times over the last few years, we had the unique opportunity to lease this warehouse with the option to purchase it at a fair market price thanks the generosity of the building’s owner John Arrington. Fortunately, the community has been incredible partners to our organization, and we successfully raised the money to put down a significant deposit on a loan to purchase the building, which closed today. We appreciate all of the generous donors, John and Martha Arrington, the Regional Council for Christian Ministry’s Board of Directors (RCCM), and the Bank of Commerce,” says CFBIF Executive Director Ariel Jackson. “Now, our challenge is to raise an additional $450,000 through our capital campaign to pay off the loan once and for all.”

Community Food Basket’s 5-day per week food distribution program has become a staple of our community as the need for food has risen significantly over the past two years. Formerly known as the Idaho Falls Community Food Bank, this organization began in 1980 as a community effort among several churches to meet the emergency needs of their church members. Today, CFBIF works to meet the emergency food needs of families and individuals facing food-insecurity in the greater Idaho Falls area and is feeding up to 2,000 local families per month.

The purchase of the warehouse is significant as it has not only resulted in monthly cost savings but the opportunity to make permanent improvements on the property and expand programming. “This purchase will not only ensure that our community always has a place to store food for distribution but will allow us to expand programming including our Backpacks for Kids program that will allow children to take home healthy and easy-to-prepare food,” explains RCCM’s Board Chair Jane Kaestner.

The purchase of the warehouse also kicks off an 18-month capital campaign to pay off the loan for the building. “We are seeking donors, foundations, and companies who believe in our programs and want to help those in need with a legacy gift of their own. A contribution to our capital campaign is a life-saving mechanism, as the quicker we pay off the loan, the faster we are able to expand programming and have the funds to purchase healthy food when local food drives and donations are down. Most of the folks we serve are underemployed, disabled, veterans, or children. I can’t think of a better way to change the lives of those in need than partnering with our nonprofit organization,” explains Jackson.

If you’re interested in contributing, please CLICK HERE and leave the word “WAREHOUSE” in your donation comment or mail a check payable to the Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls at P.O. Box 2236, Idaho Falls, ID 83403.

To learn more about our capital campaign, see our Capital Campaign Guide.

Contacts: If you’d like a tour or to learn more about joining our campaign, please contact Ariel Jackson at 208-403-5772 or email [email protected]