The City of Iowa City is holding a food drive on Friday to support CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank. Donations to Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive will be collected between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Fareway off Mormon Trek Boulevard (2530 Westwinds Dr), the North Dodge Hy-Vee (1125 N Dodge St) and the […]
Food insecurity
Posted inCommunity/News
‘There is literally no precedent for this’: Food banks prepare for lapse of SNAP funding under government shutdown
As federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is days away from running out, food banks, pantries and charitable groups across Iowa are bracing for what they anticipate will be “unprecedented” need. SNAP serves around than 270,000 Iowans each month and is a federally supported program. But as politicians in Washington D.C. squabble over […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Nearly 50,000 Iowa children could lose food aid in government shutdown, report says
Federal funding for programs feeding thousands of young and vulnerable Iowans could run out if the government shutdown continues, according to a report from Food & Water Watch. The national nonprofit released a map and report Thursday compiling how many children under the age of 5 across the U.S. rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition […]
Posted inCommunity/News
More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says
The massive tax and spending bill passed by U.S. House Republicans would likely result in 3.2 million people losing food assistance benefits, and saddle states with around $14 billion a year in costs, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Democrats have argued the bill, which the House passed, 215-214 early […]
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Coach Jan Jensen and Kate Martin join the Coralville Community Food Pantry to ‘Team Up Against Hunger’
It’s been a year of changes for the University of Iowa Women’s Basketball Team, with new players taking over from big names like Caitlin Clark and Kate “Money” Martin, both now in the WNBA. The squad also got its first new head coach in a quarter century, as Jan Jensen replaced Lisa Bluder, who retired […]
Posted inCommunity/News
More than 150 community groups make final plea to Gov. Reynolds: Don’t refuse federal aid for food-insecure Iowa kids
As 2024 draws to a close, the Iowa Hunger Coalition (IHC) is making one final push to persuade Gov. Kim Reynolds to participate in the USDA Summer EBT for Children program in 2025. That program, also known as SUN Bucks, provides $40 a month per child to a family’s SNAP benefit card during the three […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Hunger Coalition calls on Gov. Reynolds to stop rejecting millions in federal aid for food-insecure Iowa kids
The Iowa Hunger Coalition has renewed its call for Gov. Kim Reynolds to have the state participate in the USDA’s Summer EBT program. The program provides direct funds to families with children receiving federal food assistance to help them cover the increased cost of food during summer months when kids aren’t in school. Iowa was one […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Despite opt-outs by Iowa and other GOP states, debut of kids’ summer food program seen as a success
A U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to feed hungry kids during the long summer months is mostly winding down, with advocates calling it a success despite some hiccups — and the federal government and many states are already working to bring the permanent program back in 2025. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program — or Summer EBT — has popped […]
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Together We Achieve will be able to keep its Cedar Rapids food pantry open for now
Last week, Together We Achieve (TWA) launched an emergency fundraiser to keep its food pantry open. The Cedar Rapids nonprofit had seen some of the funding it was counting on fall through, and was no longer able to restock the shelves and coolers at its pantry and community resources center (1150 27th Ave SW). Founder […]
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As one Cedar Rapids food pantry holds emergency fundraiser, another closes after almost 20 years
The Cedar Rapids food pantry Together We Achieve (TWA) launched an emergency fundraiser on Wednesday, explaining in a Facebook post that it is facing the possibility of shutting down before the end of the year. “Funding priorities have shifted away from food insecurity, even as the demand continues to rise,” TWA said in the post. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds rejects millions in aid for food-insecure Iowa families (again), instead asking feds to fund her own ‘monthly box’ program
On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she is again refusing to allow Iowans to participate in a USDA program that provides millions of dollars in direct assistance to families with children to help cover the increased cost of food during summer months when kids aren’t in school. “In Iowa, our focus is on the comprehensive […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Hawkeye women’s hoops stars hope to push Coralville Community Food Pantry fundraiser over $20,000
On Friday afternoon, four people who donated to this month’s fundraiser for the Coralville Community Food Pantry (CCFP) will have a chance to go letter-for-letter with two star players from the University of Iowa women’s basketball team in a game of H-O-R-S-E. The game will take place at a special event marking the end of […]
