Idaho Young Democrats Quarterly Newsletter

Everything IDYD since the last time we saw you.

Celebrating Our Members: Goodbyes and Hellos

Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to stay connected with the work Idaho Young Democrats are doing across the state. This quarter has been full of growth, change, and community impact, and we’re super excited to share it all with you. Buckle in.

We want to begin by honoring several of our members who have moved on to new chapters in life. Whether grad school, new jobs, or just a change of scenery, we’ve sent some special folks out into the world, and we know they will keep making an impact wherever they go. A heartfelt thank you to Taylor Wilson, Will Farkas, Victoria Burns, and Jata Gandhi for their tenacious service to IDYD, and good luck to each of them as they embark on their next journeys. Their commitment has shaped this organization in ways that will last, and we’re proud (and a little emotional) to see them take their next steps.

We also want to welcome a few leadership updates here at home:

Linzy Berger stepped into the role of President after serving as Vice President.

Anthony Porto joined us in a new capacity as our Membership Chair.

We’re grateful for their willingness to lead — IDYD runs on people who show up, and both of them do exactly that. Thank you, Linzy and Anthony!

IDYD on the National Stage

This summer, members of our team traveled to Philadelphia for the Young Democrats of America National Convention. Our Idaho delegation took part in shaping the national public platform, voting on rules and leadership, and working alongside young leaders from across the country. We’re especially proud that Idaho members were elected to national caucus boards including Disability, Queer, and Rural. These spaces matter, and we’re committed to ensuring Idaho voices are represented at every level.

We’re keeping that momentum going into winter, with IDYD members recently heading back from the winter YDA meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Thank you, Linzy! If you’d like to support future travel for IDYD members and help us keep Idaho represented on the national stage, you can donate HERE!

Back here at home, our members have been doing the steady, unglamorous, essential work: registering voters, canvassing, and working the polls in the November 2025 elections—an election cycle Democrats swept across the country. Yeah, baby! Let’s keep it going in 2026!

DONATE

- Madeline Horak (IDYD Ada)

Election Moment:

“My favorite moment of working the election was registering a young woman who was voting for the very first time. She was a BSU political science student, and seeing her light up at the ability to fulfill her civic duty made the whole day feel different for me. I kept thinking about how she might remember that moment someday—maybe while helping another young woman register for her first vote, carrying the same pride and nostalgia forward. It reminded me how powerful these “small” interactions really are. Everyone deserves to cast a vote they feel good about, knowing they’re contributing to something larger than themselves.”

Food & Pet Supply Drive

Thank you so much for contributing to our food and pet supply drive in November! Thank you to Boise Booch and Boise First for being our drop-off spots. We were able to give the donated supplies to Hand and Paw Org, as well as the Idaho Food Bank. These donations will go a long way to help our community members in need.

If you’re in need of resources yourself, Boise First UCC has compiled a comprehensive list of local meal sites and support services. Their Sharing Shelf is always open for community use — take what you need, no questions asked. You can find the chart below.

Community Food Resources — At a Glance:

Here are some Treasure Valley food resources, and what we know about them, courtesy of Boise First UCC. Share with a friend to spread the word!

To locate food assistance near you serviced by the Idaho Food Bank or a community network, CLICK HERE.

For residents of Northern Idaho, you can find specific resources HERE.

📍 Location:	🕒 Hours:	🆔 ID Requirements:	👪 Household Info Needed:	Contact Info:
St. Mark’s Food Bank - 7960 W Northview St, Boise		Requirements vary; call ahead.		208) 327-0345
St. Mary’s Food Bank - 3890 W State St, Boise	🕒 M/W/F 11 AM–2 PM	🆔 ID + address for zip verification	👪 Serves 83702, 83703, 83706, 83714 + all Treasure Valley veterans	(208) 345-2734
Eagle Community Foodbank - 310 E State St, Eagle	🕒 1st & 3rd Thurs (9–11 AM), 2nd & 4th Thurs (5–7 PM)	🆔 Address verification only		(208) 631-0702
Vineyard Boise Pantry - 4950 Bradley St, Garden City	🕒 Wed & Sat 10 AM–12 PM	🆔 Ada County address verification	👪 Can visit once every 30 days	(208) 377-1477
Salvation Army Food Pantry - 9492 W Emerald St, Boise				(208) 433-4423
Meridian Food Bank - 133 W Broadway, Meridian	🕒 M/W/Th 12–4 PM	🆔 Photo ID required	👪 Names + birthdates for all household members	(208) 888-5102
El-Ada Community Assistance - 2250 S Vista Ave, Boise		🆔 First visit only		(208) 345-2820
Cathedral of the Rockies (Amity Campus) - 4464 S Maple Grove Rd, Boise		🆔 Required for intake		(208) 362-2168
St. Vincent de Paul - 3209 W Overland Rd, Boise		🚫🆔 Low-barrier (need name, city/zip, household size)		(208) 333-1460
Boise First UCC — Sharing Shelf - 2201 Woodlawn Ave	🕒 Mon–Thurs 9 AM–2 PM	🚫🆔 No ID required		(208) 344-5731

Young Dems on Draft Going Strong!

Our monthly social for young progressives, hosted at Boise Booch on the first Thursday of each month, continues to grow — and fast.

Here’s what board member and regular attendee Sarah Magnuson-Wrenchey had to say about how things are going:

“I have really enjoyed watching the growth at our Idaho Young Democrats Boise Booch meetings! When it first started there were only three or four people and now we’ve grown into a solid group of 10–20! I’m so happy to have met all of the lovely people that attend!”
— Sarah Magnuson-Wrenchey (IDYD Ada)

We love seeing new (and recurring) faces each month, and these gatherings continue to be a welcoming space for conversation, community-building, and low-pressure political engagement.

Chapter Spotlight: Bonneville Young Democrats

Our chapters across Idaho are powered by young people who care deeply about their communities, and this quarter we’re shining a light on the incredible work happening in Bonneville County! The Bonneville Young Democrats have been putting in serious time on some of the most pressing issues facing their community. Their current focuses include:

Supporting the Reproductive Rights Voter Initiative, helping ensure it not only makes the ballot but has the support it needs to pass.

Working alongside Trans Affirm and other LGBTQIA+ groups to build safe, supportive spaces and ensure young queer Idahoans have community and representation.

Partnering with local food banks to help meet immediate community needs.

Keeping the county party connected to what matters most to young progressive voters.

We are so incredibly proud of the work they’re doing for their part of our beautiful state, and beyond grateful for their leadership and heart.

If you’d like to start a chapter in your area, reach out — helping young leaders organize in their own communities is exactly why we exist. We’ll guide you through every step.

Thank you, Bonneville Young Dems!

Chance Marshall

Miranda Aarmenta

Larissa Sowers

IDYD End-of-Year Elections!

We are having elections for 2026! If you’re interested in running for any of our positions, you can fill out this Declaration of Candidacy form. You can find out more about the duties and responsibilities of each role in our bylaws linked in the form. The positions available to run for are:

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary (Previously Inclusivity Chair)
Communications Chair
Community Outreach Chair
Membership Chair
Development Chair
Parliamentarian

If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved or know someone who would be a great fit, now is the time to start thinking about it.
We’re excited to meet new leaders and welcome fresh voices into the organization!
Share this with a friend who might want to step up and tell them you think they should run for office!

Our Priorities for 2026 — And How You Can Help!

Looking ahead, our work remains focused on something simple and essential: getting young Idahoans engaged, informed, and involved.

Our goals for the 2026 election cycle include:

Expanding our chapters and statewide reach. We want young leaders on the ground in every corner of Idaho.
Connecting more young people to civic action. From canvassing for candidates, to voter registration, to calling representatives, to working the polls — we want involvement to feel accessible, not intimidating. We’re here to guide you towards a good fit.
Empowering young Idahoans to use their voices. Whether it’s giving testimony at the Legislature, organizing locally, or advocating on issues they personally care about, we want them to feel heard, confident, and supported.

Here’s how you can help strengthen that work:

Send young people our way. If you know someone who cares about their community, even a little, connect them with us.

Encourage chapter formation. If your area doesn’t have a chapter, help us start one.

Share opportunities. Let us know where young volunteers could make a difference in your community. Share with others where you spend your time volunteering. The more, the merrier!

Donate if you're able. Financial contributions help us train and mobilize young Democrats, send delegates to national gatherings, and keep Idaho’s spot at the table.

Lift us up in your networks. The more people know we exist, the more young Idahoans get plugged in. Share some posts, forward this newsletter, leave our website open on your computer. All good ways to spread the word.

We show up, we get involved, and we grow because of this community. We are beyond thankful for your continued support, and we couldn’t do any of this without you. IDYD would like to wish you and yours a very fulfilling holiday season positively brimming with love and warmth. Thank you, always, for being part of this work.

With holiday cheer and gratitude,

Madeline Horak

Idaho Young Democrats

IDYD Declaration of Candidacy Form

View this email in your browser

Copyright (C) 2025 Idaho Young Democrats. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
Idaho Young Democrats PO Box 814 Boise, ID 83701-0814 USA

Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe