Articles Tagged: Food insecurity

Also, Gov. Reynolds’ latest proclamation designed to help Sioux County schools recovering from flooding

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is launching a meal site at Johnson STEAM Academy to expand food access for households affected by the recent closure of the First Avenue Hy-Vee in a rare collaboration with area state and local government officials.

Consistently heightened food insecurity in Iowa has put growing pressure and strain on food banks and pantries across the state.

A recent report found food insecurity is on the rise in Iowa as COVID-19 pandemic nutritional benefits have sunset. HACAP Food Reservoir Director Kim Guardado discusses the findings and what Iowans can do to improve food access.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Marion schools are among 38 grant recipients under the $900K program, created by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds after she rejected $29 million in federal funding.

A new state grant program to expand existing summer food assistance programs for Iowa students in low-income families received 43 applications, according to state records obtained by The Gazette.

The chairs of the House and Senate agriculture committees earlier this month released competing frameworks for a new Farm Bill.

Mandi Remington, an Iowa City advocate, talks about what has caused increasing food security in Iowa, and what policy makers as well as all Iowans can do to address the problem

The city of Cedar Rapids had provided incentives to ensure the presence of a grocery store near the densely populated Wellington Heights and Mound View neighborhoods. A Hy-Vee spokesperson confirmed the store will close June 23.

Eastern Iowa hunger-free advocates call for changes in state law that would create broader access to food assistance.

The governor says the new state program will help grow existing summer meal sites; critics say it will fall well short of what the federal program would have offered.

Added to the legislation was a ban on food assistance benefits from being used to purchase egg substitute products.

A “potato packing party” hosted by Table to Table repackaged 18,000 pounds of the vegetables Friday afternoon — a fraction of the record-setting 58,000-pound donation the Iowa City nonprofit received this week.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen reversed course Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break.

A $300,000 grant will support the nonprofit Cultivate Hope Corner Store operated by Matthew 25, fueling its mission of offering healthy food in a Cedar Rapids neighborhood where affordable, nutritious food options were scarce.