Fighting hunger in Idaho: Regence employees make a difference

Regence employee CC Meacham (second from left) with her family and Ashley Singer (right), program coordinator for The Idaho Foodbank.

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), we're celebrating something that happens year-round at Regence: employees showing up for their communities in meaningful ways. 

Food insecurity is a reality throughout Idaho. Rural families live far from grocery stores with limited access to fresh food, or students may depend on school meals during the week but face hunger on weekends. That's where The Idaho Foodbank steps in and where Regence employees are making a difference. 

Getting food where it's needed most 

The Idaho Foodbank has been serving communities across the state since 1984, working to ensure that no Idahoan goes hungry. In 2025, the organization distributed food for 21 million meals statewide. Through facilities in Meridian, Pocatello and Lewiston, and a network of over 400 community distribution partners, The Idaho Foodbank serves approximately 216,000 people each month. 

Our corporate foundation, Cambia Health Foundation, believes that access to healthy, nutritious food is critical to achieving good health at all ages and stages of life. That’s why they are a longtime partner of The Idaho Foodbank, supporting their work through grants and employee volunteerism. 

More than just packing boxes 

That partnership comes to life at The Idaho Foodbank's Lewiston location, where Regence employees gather to tackle tasks like repackaging bulk pasta, sorting fresh produce like zucchini or peaches, and filling backpacks with weekend meals for students. 

Throughout her 25 years with Regence, CC Meacham has been a dedicated volunteer with The Idaho Foodbank. "I was raised from an early age that it's not about what I have, but what you can do to give back to your community," she said. "My dad would take us to serve homeless families over Christmas and Thanksgiving." 

The variety of work keeps volunteers engaged. Meacham appreciates how Ashley Singer, The Idaho Foodbank's program coordinator, makes everyone feel welcome by knowing regular volunteers by name, asking about their families and working with their schedules. Meacham volunteers regularly with Regence colleagues, and the shared experience has built relationships that go beyond daily work interactions. 

When it hits home 

This work is personal for Meacham. Her father instilled in her the importance of giving back, and now she's passing those values to her own children. She often brings them along to volunteer, helping them understand that not everyone has what they need. 

One shift stands out. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day a few years ago, Meacham brought her two children to help prepare backpacks for students who don't have enough food at home. 

"It was a light bulb moment for my kids," Meacham said. "They realized that kids their age need this support. It gave them a different perspective on what food insecurity looks like." 

Turning commitment into action 

At Regence, we believe in supporting the communities where we live, work and play, and we empower our employees to do the same. The community engagement team through our corporate foundation connects them to organizations like The Idaho Foodbank, while programs like Dollars for Doers — which turns volunteer hours into $20 donations that employees give to causes they care about — makes it easy to get involved.  

Meacham's advice to anyone considering volunteering? "Find a cause that resonates with you. When you do something that fuels you, engagement comes naturally." 

This National Volunteer Week, find your way to make an impact. Explore volunteer opportunities with The Idaho Foodbank and join Regence employees like CC who show up for our members and communities across Idaho.