Meridian Food Bank building expansion to feed growing number of hungry students

MERIDIAN, Idaho — In order to keep up with the growing number of West Ada students who are facing food insecurity, the Meridian Food Bank is expanding its pantry for the Backpack meal program.

“If we couldn’t build this, we’d have to start telling the school district that you’re cut off at this level, and we don’t want to do that,” said Kent Christensen, Meridian Food Bank Executive Director and Treasurer.

The Meridian Food Bank has outgrown their current space dedicated to packing meals for West Ada students in need.

WATCH | Plans to build a bigger space to serve hungry students are underway: Meridian Food Bank will build expansion to feed growing number of hungry students

“It’s not big enough,” said Christensen. "We’ve more than doubled the amount of backpacks that we’re deliverin