The Traveling Table, a new program created to meet the needs of North Nampa residents who do not have access to healthy food, will celebrate its grand opening celebration from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the corner of 7th Street and Lakeview Park in Nampa.
The mobile pantry will distribute free food provided by the Idaho Foodbank. Neighborhood gardens may provide fresh produce seasonally.
The program is presented by Treasure Valley Leadership Academy (TVLA) students, in partnership with the Healthy Impact Nampa Coalition Food Access subcommittee led by Brent Peterson of Northwest Nazarene and Bethany Gadzinski of Terry Reilly Health Services. Members include representatives of Good News Church, St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus, City of Nampa, Idaho Food Bank, Trinity Community Gardens, Nampa School District, AARP, The Salvation Army of Nampa and other organizations.
The Traveling Table, funded in part by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, is an outgrowth of work that started in 2017 when Nampa was selected to participate in a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Invest Health grant program. Using Census tract and other data points, a “Local Foods, Local Places” action plan was developed with extensive public involvement. The plan identified a food desert for residents living in neighborhoods north of downtown Nampa.
TVLA students designed graphics for the Traveling Table vehicle and will complete training for distribution of food. TVLA has a culture of student involvement in learning and the community. The Nampa School District innovation high school is located at 609 15th Ave. near Lakeview Park.
The Healthy Impact Nampa Coalition Food Access subcommittee also oversees a free grocery shuttle, which transports local residents to stores and pharmacies on Saturdays.