BOISE, Idaho — Boise Mayor Dave Bieter kicked off a week of community service projects that will culminate in 'Boise Kind Day' on Saturday, June 22 with a food drive on Monday.
The special summer food drive with the Idaho Foodbank will help ensure that no one goes hungry when the Foodbank needs donations the most.
"Hunger doesn't take a vacation, this is really a year-round challenge that we have," he said. "The need in the summer is every bit and maybe more than during the school year and we want to get that point across. Bring food, and try to fill these shelves up here."
The food drive will continue through the rest of the week, with donation stations set up at 16 locations around Boise.
Karen Vauk, with the Idaho Foodbank, says the food drive will help children that depend on school for some of their meals.
"Without the kids in school, they don't have access to the free and reduced breakfast and lunch that they had during the school year and we have to figure out where they are going to get the food, especially the nutritious food during the summer," she said.
Donations will support programs like Picnic in the Park, which helps feed kids in need every Monday through Friday at 18 different parks in Boise.
Mayor Bieter says programs like this makes Boise kind.
"We want to keep what makes Boise such a good place, and that is how we treat each other," he said. "It is really the essence of being in Boise, of being a Bosiean, it's to be respectful and kind."
At the Idaho Foodbank, there are many ways to keep the kindness going.
"Really want to give everyone an opportunity to donate how it is most meaningful for them, whether that is through donating food, donating funds, or donating their time," Bieter said.
However, it isn't just local programs in Boise that will be helped by the food drive, as food insecurity is a state-wide issue.
"In the state of Idaho, we have one in eight Idahoans that are struggling with food insecurity, just over 200,000 people that includes 70,000 children across the State," Bieter said.
Bieter hopes that this week of community service projects will continue and last into the future.
"Let's just keep at it, do it right, make sure it's long lasting and something with real substance. Let's keep Boise Kind, and make it even kinder," he said.