Food For Our Children, Inc. is making a big impact in Bonner County this year with support from United Way of North Idaho’s Community Care Funds. Their Weekend Food Program is currently providing food bags to about 480 elementary students each week, ensuring kids don’t go hungry between school days. By the end of the year, the program is expected to deliver more than 18,500 food bags to children who might otherwise face food insecurity on weekends.
Teachers have already noticed the difference. With reliable weekend food support, students are coming to school on Mondays more focused, engaged, and ready to learn. For families living paycheck to paycheck, that consistency makes a critical difference.
According to the most recent ALICE data, 44% of households in Bonner County struggle to afford basic needs. Many of these families earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot keep up with the rising costs of housing, childcare, transportation, and food. For children in these households, access to programs like the Weekend Food Program helps close the gap—supporting their health and education while easing pressure on working parents.
The program is fully volunteer-driven, with board members, community volunteers, school staff, and partners like the Bonner County Food Bank and Second Harvest making sure food gets where it’s needed most. Together, these efforts help children return to class nourished, supported, and ready to succeed.
This work is part of a larger community commitment to supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in North Idaho—families who are working hard but often don’t have enough to cover essentials. Through programs like the Weekend Food Program, United Way of North Idaho and its partners are helping to ensure that all children, no matter their family’s financial situation, have the opportunity to thrive.
If you’d like to join in and help broaden the impact, here are some ways to get involved:
Make a one-time or monthly donation — 100% of what you give goes directly toward food.
Tell your network — share the program, the needs, and the solutions. Follow Food For Our Children on social media, invite friends to learn more, or host a social fundraiser like a birthday fundraiser on Facebook.
Stay informed — sign up for their quarterly newsletter to receive updates and learn more about upcoming opportunities.