Healthy Kids Iowa, announced by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May, uses federal funding to expand the summer meal sites program that the state ran last year. Instead of one box for the whole summer, qualifying families are being given one box per child, per month in June, July and August.
Reductions in spending and tightened eligibility requirements on social safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance being considered by Republicans in Congress will significantly reduce access to health care and food assistance, impacting thousand of low-income individuals and families across Linn County.
While cuts to federal funding for food assistance have not been as severe as some feared, they have combined with two other factors already posing challenges to local food pantries: a growing demand for more help, but inflation cutting into the supply.
Get to Know Gives Back talks to Chris Ackman with HACAP about trying times of food scarcity and food distribution throughout nine counties.
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.
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.
Eastern Iowa hunger-free advocates call for changes in state law that would create broader access to food assistance.
Once rehabilitation work is complete next spring on a once-blighted building in Wellington Heights, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program will own and operate the old Colonial Centre property that the city of Cedar Rapids is transforming into affordable housing.
The Alliant Energy Foundation has announced it will be donating $515,000 to seven food banks across Iowa and Wisconsin. It was the most annual Drive Out Hunger fundraiser has earned in the 17 years it has been hosted.
Mercy Medical Center announced it will award over $150,000 in grants to local nonprofits to bolster health equity. The grants go to programs that promote food access, health foods, mental health care access and housing affordability in the Corridor.
Food banks and other food-based nonprofits are facing a crisis as inflation makes it harder to get food, and means more people are asking for food. At the same time, funding from Covid is disappearing and donations are decreasing.
State and local agencies report an increase in demand for heating and energy assistance in recent years, and they’re bracing for what are expected to be the highest heating costs households have seen in 25 years.
Four beehives are kept just behind the Anchor Center for Women in Cedar Rapids, where the bees are raised and cared for by the center’s residents. The Anchor Center is a rehabilitative center for women on their way out of the criminal justice system.
At no cost to themselves, Alliant Energy customers managed to raise $10,000 for Iowa food bank partners.
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