Reynolds directs Iowa HHS to coordinate with food banks as SNAP funding threat looms

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday said she has directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to begin coordinating with the state’s food banks as federal officials warn that food assistance payments may be delayed if the government shutdown extends into November.

Roughly 131,000 Iowa households receive benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — which distributes about $45 million a month to help low-income families buy food. Because the program is federally funded and administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), states cannot issue payments if Congress fails to approve funding.

The USDA has informed states that without new federal funding, it cannot issue November benefits, and many states have already issued warnings to participants that their aid may not be distributed on Nov. 1, causing a historic, first-time disruption to the program.

“Because SNAP is fully funded and operated by the federal government, states are unable to step in and keep it running,” Reynolds said in a statement. “But this issue could be resolved today if Senate Democrats would vote to reopen the government. If they continue to refuse, they’ll be choosing to put low-income American families at risk.”

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Reynolds said she has instructed Iowa HHS to hold regular calls with the state’s food banks to assess their inventory and distribution capacity. The agency is also reviewing Iowa’s food insecurity response plan developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the state created a Feeding Iowans Task Force to coordinate assistance across agencies and nonprofits.

Food banks brace for surge

Local food banks say they are already seeing more families visiting pantries and are preparing for a possible surge if SNAP benefits are disrupted.

Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) Food Reservoir in Hiawatha began contingency planning last week, before Thursday’s announcement from the governor, said Christopher Ackman, the organization’s communications and volunteer manager. The nonprofit is boosting food purchases now to prepare for a short-term delay in benefits, Ackman said.

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The food bank expects an influx of people seeking assistance due to concerns about the shutdown, similar to previous spikes seen during COVID-19 and other crises, he said. While there has already been a slight increase in demand, it is anticipated that demand for assistance will rise further if the shutdown continues, especially into November, as more community members become affected and concerned about their ability to access food assistance.

Ackman said the organization could handle a two- to three-week delay in SNAP payments but would face significant challenges if the disruption extends longer. The food bank has not yet requested emergency funding, and no state or local agencies or governments have offered specific assistance at this point, he said, though that could change if the shutdown continues into mid-November. Ackman said the Eastern Iowa food bank is monitoring the situation closely and preparing to take action as needed.

HACAP Food Reservoir Director Kim Guardado said some pantries in Eastern Iowa are already reporting higher traffic in recent weeks.

“The number of people visiting our network of food pantries was about the same in the last few months with only a slight increase in individuals for September. However, this month certain pantry locations are reporting more families have been visiting in the last few weeks.

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“Our food bank is trying to increase inventory in the event the shutdown continues into November,” Guardado said. “We know our charitable food system is not equipped to fill the gap left by SNAP if no benefits are issued, but we are trying to have as much food available as possible. We are working with food vendors and local donors to increase our sources for food.”

HACAP distributed 926,000 pounds of food in September, down from 1.1 million pounds in August when additional food was available through a summer child nutrition program. So far in October, about 500,000 pounds have been distributed, Guardado said.

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The organization serves nearly 50,000 people each month across seven Eastern Iowa counties. But Guardado noted the limits of Iowa’s charitable food system.

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“For every meal that is distributed through us, the SNAP program provides nine meals. So it’s easy to see that our network cannot make up the difference,” she said.

In September, 37,765 individuals in HACAP’s service area received SNAP assistance, according to Iowa HHS. Guardado said roughly half of Iowans facing food insecurity do not qualify for SNAP benefits — and those families are already straining local pantry networks.

Beyond SNAP, Ackman flagged broader federal funding exposure across HACAP’s non-food bank programs, particularly the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). While the Food Reservoir relies largely on private donations, “the majority of HACAP overall is federally funded,” he said. “If we lose funding in other areas, it affects the whole operation.”

HACAP is communicating with pantries and coordinating with its national network, Feeding America, for guidance as plans evolve week to week. The organization hasn’t requested emergency funding yet, but Ackman said that could change “ in the next week” if the shutdown appears likely to stretch into November.

If the disruption reaches mid-November and Thanksgiving, Ackman warned, “that would put us in a hard place.” He said HACAP is preparing public-facing information on where to get help if benefits are delayed, and encouraged households that can, to stock some non-perishable staples now.

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“Our biggest concern is that we won’t have the funding to keep doing what we do and could be forced to scale back or close programs if this drags on,” he said. “We’re urging state and federal leaders to understand how central programs like CSBG are to communities in their districts.”

Pantry director urges state to step in as SNAP delay looms

At the Coralville Community Food Pantry, Executive Director John Boller said the organization is bracing for what could be its busiest stretch in history if November SNAP benefits are delayed. The pantry is already seeing five to 10 new families a day and food is running out faster than usual, prompting limits on high-value items like protein and fresh produce to ensure every family receives essentials

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To prepare, Boller said the pantry is turning to donors and volunteers, collaborating with other Johnson County pantries to secure and share emergency funds, and launching a major fall fundraising push. Still, he cautioned, “to expect food pantries to fill a $2 million gap in SNAP benefits in Johnson County alone is just impossible.”

Boller urged state leaders to consider covering November SNAP benefits — similar to how Iowa stepped in earlier this month, using USDA contingency funding provided to states to continue food assistance benefits under Women, Infants and Children (WIC) — and to seek reimbursement later from the federal government. He also called for broader state support to help food banks and pantries handle what he described as a “disastrous” scenario if benefits lapse. Without intervention, he warned, many smaller rural pantries that rely solely on volunteers “won’t be able to keep up.”

Political blame intensifies

Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for the continued shutdown, saying Democrats’ refusal to vote for House-passed spending measures threatens essential services for Iowans.

“Thanks to the Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, at least 131,000 Iowa families are at risk of losing their food stamps come Nov. 1,” the delegation said in a joint statement. “Government is a service to the people, and Democrat politics is putting at risk essential services to Iowans.”

Democrats, meanwhile, accused Republicans of playing politics instead of negotiating to reopen the government.

Senate Democrats have refused to vote for a short-term funding bill, demanding Republicans extend enhanced premium tax credits that help people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and that they reverse cuts and changes to Medicaid passed earlier this year as part of Republicans’ sweeping tax cut and spending bill that the Congressional Budget Office says would cost millions of Americans their health insurance.

“Iowans need leadership and compromise to stop insurance premiums from skyrocketing and to get the government open,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement to The Gazette. “Our representatives are playing blame games and prioritizing fundraising instead.”

As the stalemate in Washington continues into a third week, Iowa food banks say they are focusing on preparation and coordination.

“We don't care which side you're on. We just need Congress to reopen the government,” Boller said. “This would be the first time ever that SNAP benefits would not go out in the history of the program, and we don't want to see what that reality would look like. So get it done. Bring both sides together. Let's ensure that our neighbors have access to food in November and beyond.”

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com