A 12-week summer program aimed at combating childhood hunger across southern Idaho got underway June 5 at Twin Falls City Park, with University of Idaho Extension playing a central role in bringing hands-on nutrition education alongside free food distribution to families in need.
The Chobani Summer Program, which first launched in 2025 with UI Extension as an original partner, is designed to reach children and families who fall through the gaps left by school district meal programs — particularly on weekends, when district-sponsored feeding services typically go dark.
Addressing a Significant Need in the Magic Valley
The scale of food insecurity in the region is significant. Approximately 4,800 children in the Magic Valley are food insecure, and roughly 40 percent of families in the area are living paycheck to paycheck. Over the course of the summer, the program expects to distribute around 200,000 pounds of food — enough to address the needs of approximately one-third of the area’s food-insecure children.
Each food bag distributed through the program includes two nutritious breakfasts, lunches, snacks, fresh fruit, and a recipe card to encourage home cooking. Chobani will also contribute 260 cases of yogurt every Friday throughout the Twin Falls distribution period. More than 100 community businesses and organizations are expected to donate or volunteer their time to support the initiative.
Distribution sites span multiple communities, including Twin Falls, Fort Hall, Jerome, Filer, Shoshone, and area Boys and Girls Clubs — broadening the program’s reach well beyond a single municipality.
UI Extension Brings Education to the Table
University of Idaho Extension staff brought their own programming to the June 5 kickoff, demonstrating seed planting and offering honey tastings from four bee species to children and adults in attendance. The educational component is a deliberate complement to the food distribution — part of a broader effort to build lasting healthy habits, not simply fill immediate needs.
Siew Guan Lee, a UI Extension representative involved in the program, described the intent clearly: “The idea is to really encourage children and adults to try new and healthy foods to encourage healthy habits.”
The 4-H Youth Development program and UI Extension’s Eat Smart Idaho initiative are both woven into the educational activities, bringing research-backed nutritional guidance and youth development programming to families throughout the summer.
Cooper Smith, representing Chobani’s community efforts, spoke highly of the university partnership. “U of I always does a great job,” Smith said. “They bring knowledge and wisdom and a unique perspective on how to teach children.”
UI Extension staff will be stationed at booths in Jerome at 300 Main St. for four Thursdays over the course of the summer, and at Twin Falls City Park, located at 400 Shoshone St. E., for 10 Fridays. Those dates give community members multiple opportunities to connect with extension specialists and learn about nutrition, food preparation, and healthy living — resources that can extend well beyond the summer months.
What Comes Next
With the program running through the end of summer, families across Twin Falls, Jerome, and surrounding Magic Valley communities can expect regular distribution events and educational programming through early fall. The partnership between Chobani and UI Extension reflects the kind of community-focused collaboration that draws on both private-sector resources and the land-grant university’s mission to serve Idaho families where they live.
UI Extension’s involvement in programs like this one reinforces the university’s longstanding commitment to practical outreach across the state — a mission that also shows up in its academic programs and student achievement. The University of Idaho’s recent All-American recognition for javelin thrower Blake Sturgis is one example of how the institution continues to invest in and develop the potential of Idaho students at every level.
Families seeking more information about distribution times and locations are encouraged to contact University of Idaho Extension or check with local community partners in their area.