DES MOINES, Iowa — Food Bank Leaders met at the State Capitol on Wednesday to ask for legislative help regarding an upcoming need for food for Iowa’s youth and their parents. The food supply leaders called on lawmakers to pass the Iowans Feeding Iowans Act.
The measure would call on the state to invest $5 million to help supply food to kids while they are not in school this summer. The Food Banks of Iowa Association would work with partners to distribute the food. Twenty percent of the food would be purchased from local farmers.
Concerns have risen since the governor declined to accept $29 million in food aid from the USDA. That money would have gone to EBT cards for families to use for around $120 worth of food per child for the summer. Since the Governor has declined the offer, the food banks are working toward a back up plan.
“It’s doubtful at this point in time whether we’ll be able to get summer EBT approved for the state of Iowa,” said Michelle Book, CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa. “The federal government has extended the deadline, I hope that we are taking a good hard look at this, if not our alternatives what are we going to do instead? We know the families need the help.”