The leaders of Iowa’s largest food bank are incensed at the U-S Department of Agriculture’s decision to end a longstanding national hunger survey. Agency officials called the survey “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous.” Annette Hacker, spokeswoman for the Food Bank of Iowa, says it’s unconscionable that USDA would eliminate this important gauge of a countrywide crisis.
The final household food security report will be released on October 22nd. Earlier this year, the group Feeding America reported 12% of Iowans and nearly 17% of Iowa children faced food insecurity, a situation that has increased in every one of the state’s 99 counties.
What’s known as the Household Food Security Report offers a yearly snapshot on the lack of access to nutrition for low-income Americans, while acting as a guide to shape policy on how best to fight food insecurity. The Food Bank of Iowa served 2.4 million people at its partner pantries in the past fiscal year, an 11% increase over the previous fiscal year.
The Food Bank of Iowa provides food assistance by partnering with 700 agencies across 55 counties in Iowa to distribute food and meals to those in need, including families, children, seniors, and veterans. Find out more at www.foodbankiowa.org/.
