Crisis Center of Johnson County launches Project Holiday campaign

IOWA CITY - About 1,800 families can expect holiday meals this season thanks to the Crisis Center of Johnson County's Project Holiday campaign.

Now in its 29th year, the Crisis Center kicked off this year's Project Holiday Friday morning with an event at MidWestOne Bank in downtown Iowa City, featuring remarks from Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, who represents Iowa's 2nd District, and Iowa City native and former Iowa Hawkeyes place-kicker Nate Kaeding, who went on to play nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the San Diego Chargers.

Organizers said they expect to feed meals to 4,000 people during the holiday season through this year's effort.

'Our holiday traditions and family traditions tend to start at the dinner table,” said Sara Sedlacek, communications and development director for the Crisis Center. 'It's about more than feeding people, It's about bringing people together.”

To help out, shoppers can look for red and white tags at local businesses and churches throughout November and December. Officials are asking area residents to bring the reminder tag, along with a $25 donation, to the Crisis Center, 1121 Gilbert Court, Iowa City. Each donation buys a family meal.

Kaeding, who now is the retail development director for the Iowa City Downtown District, said about 30 Iowa City businesses plan to display tags. He said it is important for small businesses to be philanthropic.

Crisis Center officials plan to distribute meals through the organization's headquarters in Iowa City, as well as through food pantries in North Liberty and Coralville.

The holiday program aims to help some of the more than 14 percent of Johnson County residents who are in need of food assistance, according to the county's Hunger Task Force report. Sedlacek said programs like Project Holiday also help raise awareness in the community about food insecurity, which she says is the first step to lowering that number.

'Frankly, we can't do it alone,” Sedlacek said.

Loebsack said food insecurity is a personal issue for him. He said he grew up with a single mother who struggled with mental illness and used food stamps.

Loebsack said the people who use the Crisis Center's services are similar to the people in his family. He said that's why he uses his time in Congress to ensure services like those provided by the Crisis Center continue.

'I don't ever want to forget how I grew up,” Loebsack said. 'You can see tangibly what they (the Crisis Center) provide and how it does help folks.”