Idaho Foodbank executive director Roger Simon accepted $223,000 in donations from two corporations during the annual meeting Thursday.

He later half-jokingly said he wanted to have an annual meeting every week.

The donations - $200,000 from Regence BlueShield of Idaho and $23,000 from Fred Meyer stores - go to the heart of the food bank's goals.

"The food bank has refined its focus by not just bringing food in, but bringing in nourishing food," he said. "These donations fall right in line with that."

The Regence donation will help focus on getting nutritious food to children.

The Fred Meyer donation will augment the food bank's Grocery Alliance Program, which last year provided one-third, or 482,033 pounds, of the food donated locally during the last year.

"The food is rotated out (of grocery stores) because the consumer has a certain expectation when shopping, and the grocery stores do everything possible to keep that display attractive," Roger said.

So food products that don't meet the high visual demands of consumers go from the store shelves to the food bank then into the hands of people who might not be able to afford the cost of the food no matter how it looks.

Simon said that is especially important, citing a University of Washington study showing a "quick fix for energy" cost $1.76 for 1,000 calories that are high in fat or starches. The healthier high-energy quick fix costs $18.16 for 1,000 calories.

"It's a clear explanation why we have such a serious problem of obesity with low-income folks," Simon said. "You go for the quick fix that cost less, but you put on fat."

The money donated by Regence, to be paid over three years, was a surprise boost to the food bank, Simon said. In fact, the food bank will get more if any of Regence's 832 Idaho employees choose to direct their personal donations to the non-profit in Regence's Employee Giving Campaign.

Regence spokesman Mike Tatko said the large donation is one of two made to Treasure Valley nonprofits. The Treasure Valley YMCA received a $200,000 donation earlier this month.