It’s Great to Be Back at The Hunger Coalition

Tom Iselin
Jun 6, 2015
3 min read

Updated: Dec 14, 2025

2:14. During my hiking trip to Sun Valley, ID, I popped into the Hunger Coalition to see what's new, 10 years after starting the organization.

It’s Great to Be Back at The Hunger Coalition

Coming back to The Hunger Coalition feels surreal—in the best way. I can’t believe how much this place has grown.

We used to operate out of the basement of a bank in Ketchum. Now we have a massive warehouse that serves thousands of families across the Wood River Valley.

And standing here today, I’m reminded of 2 things.

How real the need is here.
What can happen when a community shows up and stays committed.

The Quick Takeaway

This valley has tremendous wealth, but it also has a large working-poor population. The Hunger Coalition exists to make sure families don’t go without food, and to help people move from dependency to self-sufficiency through practical support and education.

From a Basement to a Massive Warehouse

When I started this organization, it was incredibly grassroots. I went door to door to businesses in the valley asking for donations—just me and maybe 1 other person.

Here’s what it looked like in the beginning:

We raised $10,000
I matched it with another $10,000
We did the work however we could, with whatever we had

And now?The Hunger Coalition is a million-dollar organization serving families at scale.

The Need Is Bigger Than People Think

People assume that because this is Sun Valley, everyone is doing great.

Not true.

This valley is like Aspen in a lot of ways—there’s a lot of money here, but there are also working poor people who are living right at the poverty line or below.

That reality shows up in the numbers.

Yesterday alone:

3,800 families were served
60 families came into this warehouse to get food
Shelves were cleared of essentials like:
- Fresh produce
- Dairy
- Canned goods
- Basic household staples

And one of the hardest truths?

Many kids can go an entire weekend without adequate food

T

hat is exactly why The Hunger Coalition exists.

It’s Not Just a Handout. It’s a Hand Up.

Yes—we provide food. That’s the urgent need.

But we also help people move from dependency to self-sufficiency through support that builds stability over time.

That includes things like:

Nutrition education
Classes and resources that support healthier choices
Self-development support that helps families get stronger and more independent

This work matters because food insecurity is rarely just about food.It’s about the lack of margin in someone’s life.

What Would Happen If The Hunger Coalition Didn’t Exist?

If this organization didn’t exist, many people would have no choice but to leave this valley.

They simply couldn’t stay.

That’s not hypothetical. That’s real.

This Success Isn’t About 1 Person

I might have started the organization, but this has never been about me.

The Hunger Coalition is what it is today because of:

Hundreds of volunteers
Dozens of staff members
Board members committed to alleviating hunger in Sun Valley
A community that continues to show up

Summary

It’s an honor to be back at The Hunger Coalition—to do a little work, stock shelves, see old friends, and remember what’s possible.

We started in a basement.Now we serve thousands. And the mission is still the same: make sure people have what they need, and help them build a stronger path forward.

Tom Iselin

Rated One of America’s Best Board Retreat

and Strategic Planning Facilitators

About the Author

Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.

Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.

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If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!

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