Fight against food insecurity

In the past, I’ve thrown around the phrase, “I’m starving,” while talking to a co-worker before lunch, standing in the kitchen with my husband, or perhaps waiting to be seated a restaurant. I’m thankful that I have the privilege of never truly experiencing hunger.

I haven’t looked at my kids and wondered where their next meal would come from. I haven’t had to tell them to drink a glass of water to fill their bellies before bed, knowing their next meal would be at school on Monday morning. In Eastern Iowa alone, 10,000 children (9 percent) of our children under 18) have experienced this or something like it. Data shows there are almost 34,000 people facing food insecurity in our community — about 7 percent of Eastern Iowa’s overall population.

This data was collected in 2021 when many families facing food insecurity had increased SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known as food assistance) benefits, stimulus payments and Child Tax Credits. These additional benefits have ended and more people than ever find themselves wondering where to get enough food to feed their family. Local food pantries are serving record numbers of hungry neighbors each day.

One recently told us, “I only use food pantries if I need to, and lately that has been a lot more often. Having places like this is great; I don’t qualify for any assistance, but I tell you what, If I couldn’t come to a place like this, I would have days when I wouldn’t have any food, because I just can’t afford it anymore. After the bills are paid there isn’t much left anymore. Not sure when that will change, but it needs to. Either that, or they need to provide everyone with food stamps, because I am not someone anyone would look at and assume I needed help, but here I am!”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in the household to live an active, healthy life.” Food insecurity affects all aspects of a person’s life and has a great impact on that person’s overall health outcomes.

More people in Eastern Iowa are facing food insecurity, and agencies are stepping up to support our neighbors. Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) is the local Feeding America Food Bank serving Eastern Iowa. HACAP works with 260 partner agencies in Linn, Benton, Jones, Iowa, Johnson, Washington, and Cedar counties to help ensure their pantries are stocked to feed people at community food pantries, soup kitchens, dining sites, school pantries, backpack programs, residential facilities, and child care programs. Most of these programs are run by volunteers though a few do have paid staff.

This is important, necessary work. Iowans won’t solve food insecurity by just feeding people. We need to connect our neighbors with other food assistance programs. Programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) that provide more consistent support. We need to ensure that they have the resources necessary to succeed. Things like access to affordable health care, quality education, reliable transportation, safe neighborhoods where they can live work and play, and strong social supports. Together, these things will ensure our neighbors have what they need to promote economic stability and healthy, thriving households.

These supports will help if they are available to families. Unfortunately, the rising cost of food and transportation is hurting local agencies including our food bank. Though we’ve seen an increase in donated food from local retail and manufacturers, we’ve been purchasing 14 times the amount of food we purchased just 4 years ago.

Our communities seem more divided than ever. To help those in our communities, though, we must come together to create change. I urge you to educate yourself on local, state, and federal policies that affect those in poverty. Talk to your elected officials about what is important to you and help them understand your needs and the needs of everyone in your community. Plant extra rows in your garden to donate to a local pantry and purchase foods from local farmers (remembering that your SNAP benefits can be used at local Farmers Markets). If you’re in a position where you’re able to do so, contact a local nonprofit to see how you can help provide for your neighbors.

If you’d like to learn more about HACAP and the Food Reservoir, visit us online at hacap.org or in person. We’re celebrating 40 years of service with an open house on Sept. 26 from 4-6 p.m. at the HACAP Food Reservoir located at 1515 Hawkeye Drive in Hiawatha. Please come and join us.

Kim Guardado is the Food Reservoir Director for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc.