Articles Tagged: Food insecurity

It’s been almost six months since Together We Achieve, a Cedar Rapids food pantry, reached out to the community in a last-ditch effort to prevent closure. Now, almost three months into 2025, the pantry is still open and things are looking up, according to its executive director.

Also, 3 people charged after protests at Iowa Capitol

Iowa anti-hunger advocates called on state leaders to participate in a summer federal food benefits program and raise income-eligibility requirements to fight hunger in Iowa.

Iowa Giving Coalition gave away 2,000 Thanksgiving meals last weekend, 1,400 of which went to people in Cedar Rapids.

The USDA said Iowa failed to provide “compelling evidence of the potential benefits of an untested alternative model.” Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa will reapply for a waiver under the new Trump administration.

Iowa had requested a waiver from the federal ag department to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to purchase lab-grown meat or egg substitute products; USDA denied the request

Also, Iowa airports call on U.S. senators to oppose bill that could impact travel rewards

A garden at Northern Illinois University is part of the Edible Campus program, which aims to address food insecurity among students through creating hands-on, sustainable food systems.

Also, Iowa Agriculture Secretary re-establishes advisory council eliminated by lawmakers

With elements of social media, recipe books and educational tools, the website is converging a community around its love of food while fight hunger — both for website users and those struggling with food insecurity.

Food pantries and food-based nonprofits are being overwhelmed with increasing need, and many have been unable to keep up. Community food providers are worried that without better collaborative efforts between pantries, and increased support from local government, food is going to become increasingly difficult to access in Linn County.

Cedar Rapids’ Hy-Vee on First Avenue NE closed more than two months ago. Nonprofits are filling the gap while the city looks to find a new permanent grocer.

Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited Hawkeye Area Community Action Program’s Food Reservoir in Hiawatha Wednesday to discuss how the state is working to connect Iowa food banks with Iowa farmers and producers to help alleviate food insecurity.

Together We Achieve, a nonprofit food pantry that started as a derecho recovery Facebook group in 2020, is asking the community to help it raise $50,000 in an effort to avoid closing its doors permanently.

The state would pay half of the nearly $3.9M administrative costs under Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to the USDA.