Feeding kids must be Iowa’s goal

A debate over how best to provide Iowa kids food during the summer continues to simmer in Iowa.

Anti-Hunger advocates are urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to participate in a federal program providing $120 per-child during summer months through Electronic Benefits Transfer. Or EBT. The program now called SUN Bucks would aid 245,000 kids.

Gov. Kim, Reynolds doesn’t like the EBT program because it allows children and families to use the help to shop for food. She fears families with food assistance will buy unhealthy foods, although surveys show families on assistance have buying habits similar to Americans who don’t need help.

The Reynolds’ administration asked for federal waiver to, instead, provide monthly food boxes to families available at a series of pickup points or through delivery. But in October federal officials denied the waiver request.

Reynolds says she will try again when the Trump administration takes power. But advocates hope the governor also will participate in SUN Bucks. The state must decide by Jan. 1 whether it will participate.

Stuck in the middle are Iowa kids.

One in six Iowa children face hunger and 40% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients are kids. And the meal gap between the food Iowans need and food they acquire is $245.9 million annually.

Hunger is a big problem in Iowa. Food banks across Iowa are struggling to meet rising demand. Some have been forced to close under the financial strain.

It strikes us there really doesn’t have to be a disagreement on how to respond to childhood hunger. There is really no reason to pick one way for helping kids. There is plenty of need for both the federal program and Reynolds’ food boxes.

A state with surplus bucks can afford to try out food boxes with nutritious options. At the same time, federal SUN Bucks will provide with greater flexibility in purchasing food. Most of these bucks will be spent at local grocery stores, farmers markets and other nearby small businesses.

Both efforts have considerable merit. Picking both approaches means the debate ends and Iowa kids are the winners.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com