Businesses unite to provide free meals for local healthcare workers

6 Ball Ventures and local healthcare workers posing at a Free Meals event in front of food

By Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS — Local healthcare workers have been on the front lines treating and screening patients since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and dozens of businesses are uniting to say thank you.

A local nonprofit called Mountain View Charity recently launched “Feeding our Heroes,” a program dedicated to providing thousands of free meals to workers on shift at Idaho Falls Community Hospital and Mountain View Hospital.

Cortney Liddiard, CEO of Ball Ventures, one of the sponsors of the program, tells EastIdahoNews.com the response from businesses and vendors has been surprising.

“Part of the entire concept was to be able to target restaurants that are struggling (so we could) benefit their business,” Liddiard says. “Without fail, every vendor has wanted to offer a discount. Some vendors have provided meals for free. It makes you realize how blessed we are and what great community members we have when it comes to circling around a cause.”

More than $70,000 has been raised for the program, which got underway about a week and a half ago. At least 20 businesses are sponsoring it, including Bank of Idaho, Idahoan Foods, Kyani, Bank of Commerce, Citizens Community Bank, Zions Bank and Wheeler Electric.