Governor Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to convene regular meetings with food banks and pantries since federal food assistance for over 130,000 Iowa households will likely be delayed due to the government shutdown. Federal officials already directed states not to issue SNAP benefits in November. Iowa food pantries and food banks are preparing for a spike in demand. Annette Hacker is chief communications and strategy officer for the Food Bank of Iowa.
Kathy Underhill is CEO of the Des Moines Area Religious Council, which runs a network of 14 food pantries.
Governor Reynolds says she’s reviewing the food insecurity response plan the state developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March of 2020, Reynolds appointed a Feeding Iowans Task Force after tens of thousands of Iowans were furloughed, laid off or saw a significant drop in their income…