As President Donald Trump blocks food assistance for nearly 131,000 hungry Idahoans, the Idaho Democratic Party is stepping up with a statewide food drive to help fill the gap and feed Idahoans left behind by Republican indifference.

Democratic attorneys general fought back early on. After two lawsuits were successfully brought against the administration, including one from Democratic AGs, a federal judge originally ruled that Trump must use contingency funds to distribute a portion of SNAP benefits.

Late Saturday night, the Trump administration ordered states that had stepped in to keep families and children fed to reverse those efforts or face financial penalties. This came after a federal appeals court ordered Trump to fully fund SNAP benefits — a ruling he immediately tried to overturn with the help of his hand-picked Supreme Court justices.

In response, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement:

“It says everything about Republican priorities that their answer to hunger is punishment. Donald Trump fought to take food off people’s tables, and Idaho’s Republicans in Congress cheered him on. These are the same Republican politicians who voted to shrink benefits for every Idaho family on SNAP and kick 8,000 Idahoans off the program earlier this year. While they turn their backs on working families, Governor Brad Little sits on a $1.7 billion rainy day fund instead of using it to keep kids from going hungry. Idaho families can’t eat excuses. Idaho Democrats aren’t waiting around for them to do the right thing. We’re rolling up our sleeves and making sure families have what they need. That’s what caring for our community looks like, and it’s what real leadership demands.”

The food drive will take place from November 14 to 25, with Democratic leaders, candidates, and volunteers collecting donations across the state. All food collected will be distributed through local food banks and community pantries.

Participating Democratic organizations to date include:

  • Ada County Democrats
  • Bannock County Democrats ($500 Idaho Food Bank donation)
  • Power County Democrats
  • Blaine County Democrats
  • Latah County Young Democrats
  • Legislative District 12 Democrats
  • Legislative District 14 Democrats
  • Legislative District 17 Democrats
  • Legislative District 19 Democrats
  • Bonneville County Democrats
  • Elmore County Democrats
  • Jerome County Democrats

For a list of local drop-off sites, visit idahodems.org/fooddrive.

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