Community Food Basket receives donation from local high school
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IDAHO FALLS — Skyline Senior High School awarded the Community Food Basket Idaho Falls with a check for $36,000 as part of the Souper Bowl program.
“One word: ‘blessed,'” said Bud Langerak, executive director of the Community Food Basket, “It’s a blessing to the community to have young people do so much for the community.”
Langerak accepted the check from Heidi Guza’s student government class on Thursday, Feb. 25. The class was in charge of the Souper Bowl efforts at Skyline. During the Souper Bowl, Skyline and Idaho Falls high schools accepted donations of money and canned goods — 37 pallets worth — to benefit the food bank.
Depending on how the donation is used, it could provide between 200,000 and 500,000 meals to people in need.
Langerak discussed different ways the money could be spent, such as buying the food from local grocery stores or getting it shipped from other food banks. After they worked out the costs, the students gave him permission to spend some of the money on shipping instead of on food only.
“You’re helping your community and your peer group as well,” said Langerak to the students. Just over 40 percent of the people served in the area are under the age of 18, he said, the same age as many of the students involved.
Guza said the students aren’t quite done yet. Students will now host ice cream parties at middle schools as a reward for students who donated to the Souper Bowl.
“These are the best kids in District 91,” said Guza.
