Annual drive hopes effort can provide 150,000 meals

CEDAR RAPIDS - This summer, organizers of the Eastern Iowa Freedom from Hunger Food and Fund Drive hope to collect enough donations to provide 150,000 meals as a way to commemorate the drive's 15th anniversary.

Individuals, organizations and businesses can participate in the drive through August by donating money and food, which the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Food Reservoir distributes to 114 partner agencies in seven Eastern Iowa counties.

'Food insecurity is a little more prevalent than most people realize,” HACAP Food Reservoir Director Linda Gorkow said.

Some 12 percent of Iowa residents struggle with food insecurity, according to Feed America, a national hunger-relief organization. Feed America defines food insecurity as 'a household's inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life.”

People tend to donate to food banks most around the holidays, Gorkow said, which can lead to a lull during the summer. At the same time, the need for donations increases when children who rely on school lunches are on summer break, she said.

Overall need at the food reservoir is on the rise as well.

Last year, the facility distributed about 4 million pounds of food, Gorkow said. This year, it is on pace to distribute 6 million pounds.

A food reservoir operates differently than a food pantry in that a reservoir distributes food to food banks rather than to families, Gorkow said. Through its partner agencies, the HACAP Food Reservoir serves about 56,000 people, she said.

Linn County Community Services Deputy Director Ann Hearn, who helped launch the food drive, said she's seen a clear increase in community reliance on food banks since she joined the HACAP Food Reservoir council in 1990, but many don't realize how many Iowa families struggle with food insecurity.

'People just don't see [food insecurity], and they don't think about it,” she said.

Many businesses and organizations have competitions to see who can bring in the most food and money, Gorkow said. At the end of the drive, HACAP announces an overall winner.

Since the first Eastern Iowa Freedom from Hunger Food and Fund drive in 2003, donations have increased more than tenfold, Hearn said. HACAP received about 14,000 pounds of food that year. Last year, the drive gathered over 148,000 pounds of food.

Individuals and groups who want to donate can drop off non-perishable food and money through August at HACAP, 1515 Hawkeye Dr., Hiawatha. With a $1 donation, HACAP can purchase 6 pounds of food. HACAP is especially in need of foods like peanut butter, canned tuna, brown rice, nuts and whole grain oats, cereals, crackers and pasta. Also, donation bins will be at the Cedar Rapids Kernels' games on July 21 and 22.

l Comments: (319) 368-8542; rilyn.eischens@thegazette.com