Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Iowa’s largest provider of food for the needy has a new leader. Tami Nielsen took over this week as the CEO of the Des Moines-based Food Bank of Iowa, which serves 55 of the state’s 99 counties. Nielson has been with the agency for almost nine years.
The Food Bank of Iowa distributes more than 27 million pounds of food every year through some 700 partners statewide. Nielsen says Iowa’s challenges with food insecurity aren’t insurmountable, but they’re continuing to grow.
A report last year from Feeding America found nearly 11% of all Iowans and more than 15% of Iowa children face food insecurity. That translates to 344 thousand Iowans, including 110 thousand children, who don’t know where they will find their next meal. Nielsen is the food bank’s fourth leader since its founding 43 years ago. She succeeds Michelle Book, who retired at the end of 2024.
(Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)
KIWA Staff Photo
