Idaho Food Drive Aims to Fill Shelves
The Great Idaho Food Drive runs through November 19 as food insecurity affects 14.2% of the state's residents.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Do you think hunger in your part of Idaho is getting worse?
The Great Idaho Food Drive, started by CBS2 and Les Schwab, is collecting donations at Les Schwab Tire Center locations through November 19, with Albertsons accepting donations the week of November 16. Feeding America reported 283,630 food insecure people in Idaho, and the Idaho Foodbank serves an average of 200,000 people each month.
Why it matters
Feeding America's figures show that 14.2% of Idahoans and 18% of children in the state experience food insecurity, making food donations a direct support for residents across Idaho. The drive aims to provide nutritious meals to people statewide.
Feeding America reported 283,630 food insecure people in Idaho, a 14.2% rate, and 84,750 food insecure children, an 18% rate. The Idaho Foodbank distributed 26.5 million pounds of food and provided 22 million meals last year, with 84% of distributed food considered nutritious.
The players
Idaho Foodbank
The Idaho Foodbank is the state's major hunger-relief organization, distributing food through a statewide network of partner agencies.
Les Schwab Tire Center
Les Schwab Tire Center is a regional tire and automotive service chain whose locations serve as drop-off points for the food drive.
CBS2
CBS2 is the Boise-area CBS television station that co-launched the Great Idaho Food Drive with Les Schwab.
Feeding America
Feeding America is a national nonprofit network of food banks whose data source reported Idaho's food insecurity figures.
The details
CBS2 and Les Schwab started the Great Idaho Food Drive to help provide nutritious meals across Idaho. Donations can be made at any Les Schwab Tire Center location through November 19, and Albertsons is accepting donations the week of November 16, while Two Men and a Truck helped collect donations and deliver them to the Idaho Foodbank.
Timeline
2025: Idaho Foodbank distributed 26.5 million pounds of food statewide.
Week of November 16, 2026: Albertsons begins taking food donations.
November 19, 2026: The Great Idaho Food Drive ends.
Philanthropy Landscape
The Idaho Foodbank's distribution of 26.5 million pounds of food last year reflects the scale of need that Feeding America's state estimates track each year. Corporate-partnered food drives like this one, run by a local broadcaster and a regional retailer, are a common way Idaho's food banks supplement donations between seasons.
Residents can drop off non-perishable donations at any Les Schwab Tire Center location through November 19, or give at Albertsons during the week of November 16. Each donation helps the Idaho Foodbank, which serves about 200,000 people monthly, put nutritious food on the tables of families across the state.
The takeaway
Food insecurity touches roughly one in seven Idahoans, and a single drop-off at a local Les Schwab or Albertsons can help close that gap. Checking whether your local store is participating before November 19 is a simple step that puts donations where they're needed most.
What happens next
The Great Idaho Food Drive donation period ends November 19, and Albertsons begins accepting donations the week of November 16.
Further reading
For more on local giving efforts, see Philanthropy coverage tied to Idaho.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KBOI.
Live Poll
Do you think hunger in your part of Idaho is getting worse?
