Statewide Iowa (RI) — A new survey done for the Iowa Food Bank Association finds one in eight Iowans is food insecure, as is one in six Iowa children, and there’s strong support for finding more ways to help.
Katie Sorrell, the association’s executive director, says 71 percent of respondents said food insecurity is a problem in Iowa, and half said the state isn’t doing enough to support people facing hunger.
The survey, done by the research firm Murmuration, found 77 percent of those questioned say they support universal school food programs that fund free breakfast and lunch for all students, not just those from lower incomes.
She says all Iowans are being impacted by rising food costs, some more than others.
The survey found 71 percent of respondents agree the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps those experiencing food insecurity, while 64 percent say SNAP helps the Iowa economy.
The Iowa Food Bank Association is comprised of Iowa’s six Feeding America food banks: Food Bank of Iowa, Food Bank for the Heartland, Food Bank of Siouxland, HACAP, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and River Bend Food Bank. They collectively distributed more than 54 million meals through 1,500 partner agencies in all 99 Iowa counties last year.
KIWA Staff Photo
