116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Cedar Rapids City Council considering $25K HACAP pledge
The nine-member city council issued an ‘emergency proclamation’ in light of lapse in SNAP benefits
Nov. 4, 2025 4:28 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids City Council members later this month will vote on whether to direct $25,000 to an area food bank.
The council on Tuesday issued an “emergency proclamation” about the rising risk of food insecurity following the recent disruption to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides 1 in 8 Americans with money for food each month.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to freeze SNAP payments Nov. 1 because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. Two federal judges last week ordered the government to continue funding the program through emergency funds, but delays are still expected.
Such a lapse “is expected to cause a significant surge in demand for emergency food assistance,” states the proclamation, read Tuesday by Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell. “Without immediate support, the ability of (social service agencies) to respond effectively may be severely limited, highlighting a risk of hunger becoming a broader public health crisis."
Some area businesses, community groups and individual residents have already taken steps to help affected Iowans, and Gov. Kim Reynolds last week announced a $1 million state match for private donations to Iowa food banks.
The city of Cedar Rapids is now looking to follow suit through a $25,000 contribution to the Hiawatha-based Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) — one of Iowa’s six regional food banks.
O’Donnell read the “Support the Fight Against Food Insecurity” proclamation at Tuesday’s meeting, including language that urged the council to pledge $25,000 to the cause.
Because the emergency proclamation was not included on the formal agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, the matter will come back to City Council for a formal vote at the Nov. 18 meeting to ensure compliance with open meetings laws.
O’Donnell told The Gazette that city staff are still identifying exactly where the money will come from should members vote favorably but that they are confident there are sources from which the $25,000 could be responsibly procured.
She added that the matter will come before council on Nov. 18 regardless of whether the government shutdown concludes and/or SNAP benefits are delivered in the meantime, noting the likely ripple effects of the current delay and the persistence of food insecurity state- and nationwide.
HACAP Food Reservoir Director Kim Guardado was present for Tuesday’s proclamation and said the organization is grateful for the city’s support, noting the importance of such support in meeting rising demand for food assistance.
“We’ve had a lot of support from partners in the community, … but we’ve also seen an increase of people that are looking for help,” she said. “All the money that we’re raising during this time goes directly to our partner agencies to get food to our neighbors facing food insecurity.”
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