With food insecurity on the rise, forum held in Coralville to address solutions

CORALVILLE - 'Rent eats first.”

Often, that's the case in Johnson County, said Supervisor Mike Carberry during the third annual hunger forum held Tuesday at the Coralville Public Library.

Hosted by the Johnson County Crisis Center, this year's forum featured three panels of experts discussing issues surrounding the topic of food insecurity. Directors from local food banks and other charitable organizations, as well as city officials, focused on transportation, communication and providing healthy foods.

The event follows a February report by the Johnson County Hunger Task Force that showed food insecurity is on the rise in Johnson County. It also comes on the heels of Grow Johnson County's first year of plantings through which about 2 acres of crops are expected to produce upward of 25,000 pounds of produce.

Carberry said many people cannot afford to buy food after they pay for housing and utilities. More than 80 percent of those who go to food banks in Johnson County pay more than half their income in housing each month, according to the Hunger Task Force Report.

'That takes such a large part of people's budget on a monthly basis,” Carberry said. 'You've got to pay your rent and utilities so you have a place to live. Sometimes that doesn't leave a whole lot left for food.”

Several panelists offered up solutions to help connect those in need with food.

Kaila Rome, executive director of the North Liberty Community Panty, said a bus route in her city would increase access to the food bank, especially for people who are disabled. Carberry said the county is working to develop this.

Panelists agreed Johnson County residents need better ways to receive information about services provided to people who may be food insecure - both online to reach a younger audience and in a print brochure or advertising to appeal to senior citizens who may need help.

'I think the big barrier is actually getting people to access that information,” said Nick Bergus, communications director for the city of North Liberty. 'One of the tricks is you have to make this information ubiquitous.”

Panelists and those in attendance at the forum suggested the expansion of Grow Johnson County, through which food is to be donated to food banks. They also advocated for more community gardens and an increase in cooking skills education.

Tuesday's forum also served as a kickoff to Johnson County's Thanksgiving in July food drive. Crisis center officials said the goal is to collect 80,000 pounds of food to help during a busy month when children are out of school and families are relying more on food banks.

Sara Sedlacek, communications and development director at the crisis center, said during the food drive, donations can be made online at jccrisiscenter.org. Officials said for every $1 donated, 4 pounds of food can be purchased. Sedlacek said many area businesses are serving as food drop-off locations.

While food donations are important, officials said they are happy to see an added focus on understanding the need for the food.

'The community is becoming more engaged with this topic and they aren't just wanting to give someone a can of food and call it a day,” said Sarah Benson Witry, the crisis center's food bank and emergency assistance director. 'They're wanting to understand more of the underlying causes of food insecurity and also what are some of the more complex solutions.”