CANYON COUNTY — Local food donation agencies say the people seeking help are in large part working-poor families in which at least one parent is working but the family still can not afford basic necessities.

Ligia Ambriz, a captain with the Caldwell Salvation Army, said while some food is distributed to homeless individuals or those coming out of jail, the majority goes to low-income families with children, often headed by single parents.

Nampa Salvation Army family services director Carolyn Gulley said she sees the same thing.

“Most of them are working just minimum-wage-type jobs and that’s not enough to make it,” she said.

Gulley estimated Nampa’s Salvation Army chapter helps 200 families a month. Ambriz said Caldwell’s generally feeds between 15 and 20 a week and received 20 applications Tuesday alone.The Idaho Food Bank’s Boise distribution center supplies food to the Salvation Army as well as dozens of other pantries and kitchens in the Treasure Valley. According to records from distribution agencies, products from the Food Bank feed at least 81,000 individuals annually, spokesman David Proctor said.

In 2005 the Food Bank made a total of 729,000 distributions. Of those, 279,000 went to children and 124,000 to seniors living on fixed incomes.

“There are a lot of low-wage jobs out there, and even when two people in a family are working, it’s hard to make ends meet,” Proctor said.

Many who come to Food Bank distributors are receiving other aid such as food stamps, Proctor said, but they often run out well before the end of the month.

“We understand that food is central,” Proctor said. “It is the most important need. If we can fill that gap for people, they can focus on those other needs — shelter, health care, education. If we can get families around the dinner table we know good things will happen.”

Food distributors run low

Local food distributors say they are running out of many types of provisions, as they often do after summer and before the holiday season when donations tend to increase.

Representatives said they are in need of any non-perishable food people can donate.

The Caldwell Salvation Army specifically seeks boxed pasta, canned fish, canned fruit, powdered or concentrated milk, dry beans, canned tomato products, dry cereal or oatmeal, crackers, peanut butter and jelly.

Donations can be made to the Idaho Food Bank or directly to a distributor.

“The thing we want people to understand is that poverty is a year-round issue,” Food Bank spokesman David Proctor said. “We support a lot of families and we can’t do it by magic. It depends on Idahoans.”

The Idaho Food Bank lists 23 distributing agencies in Canyon County, including:

n Nampa Salvation Army: 403 12th Ave. S., 467-6586

n Caldwell Salvation Army: 1015 E. Chicago St., 459-2011

n Boise Rescue Mission Lighthouse: 472 Caldwell Blvd. in Nampa, 461-5030