- Michelle Book is president and CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa.
Summer can be the best season in Iowa, unless you’re a kid and hungry. According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 Iowa children faces food insecurity, and nearly half of Iowa children receive free or reduced-price meals from the USDA during a typical school day. For these children, summer is a time of scarcity and fear, as working parents struggle to pay for 10 to 15 extra meals per child each week.
Food pantries are facing longer lines as household poverty increases, meaning the food banks that stock their shelves must find more food and operate more trucks. The Iowa Food Bank is seeking more food donations, buying more in bulk and recruiting more volunteers to meet the growing demand. We are proud of our work, but recognize that we are only addressing one symptom of a larger, more significant community challenge: poverty.
While existing emergency food systems focus on solving the immediate and daunting task of getting more food to more people, our community partners – community foundations, United Way and other nonprofits across the state – are focused on eradicating the causes of poverty. . Eleven percent of all Iowans live in poverty.
Nonprofit organizations that focus on lifting neighbors out of poverty play a vital role in providing basic services such as health care and loans. They develop programs to teach financial literacy and job skills. They help people find and keep jobs. They advocate for government policies that help all citizens succeed. Their work is key to solving food insecurity and shortening lines at food pantries across our state.
What can you do to help? Consider a two-pronged approach to helping your neighbors in need.
Please continue to support your local food banks, pantries, and meal sites with your time and treasure. And get more involved with your local community foundation and United Way organizations. Learn more about your programming and provide support in ways that align with your personal resources and values. Boost your advocacy efforts by contacting legislators and promoting legislation that supports the prosperity of all Iowans.
Access to food is a security issue and we are failing to keep our children safe. Food insecurity is a symptom of poverty. Until we eradicate poverty, children will go hungry. We owe our children a better future. Contribute. Together we can make a difference.
Michelle Book is president and CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa.
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