Food insecurity rises in Iowa; 385,000 residents face hunger
A new Feeding America study using 2023 data shows that food insecurity is rising across all 99 counties in Iowa, affecting nearly 400,000 residents, including 120,000 children.
Students from Interstate 35 schools participated in a field trip to the Food Bank of Iowa, where they repackaged rice. Charlotte Miller, a fifth grader, said, "It's hard because, like, you have to make sure you're doing it right. Or you're going to mess it up."
The study indicates that 385,000 Iowans, including 120,000 children, are experiencing food insecurity, with one in six children affected. Feeding America reports that food insecurity is increasing in every Iowa county.
Annette Hacker from the Food Bank of Iowa said, "Based on what we're seeing heading into times that may well be tougher than Covid was for food banks." Hacker emphasized that it would take 73 million meals to ensure Iowans have enough to eat, citing stagnant wages and federal cuts as contributing factors. "We have got to help Iowans who are working hard but simply can't make ends meet. And there's not enough money at the end of the month to keep enough nutritious food on the table," she said.
Hacker expressed concern that USDA cutbacks will exacerbate the situation, noting that the food bank lost 400,000 pounds of government meat and dairy due to recent budget cuts.
"The only way to make up the shortfall of USDA food is to go purchase more. And the only way we can purchase food is through donations," she said.
Charlotte Miller, who has enough to eat, wants to ensure other children do too.
"It's really nice to know that. So that way we know that everyone's getting enough to eat, and everyone knows they're getting what they need," she said.
Donations to the Food Bank of Iowa can help address the growing need for food assistance.
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