Grace has five grandchildren who she often cares for. The more food she gets, the more she can feed her family when they stay with her, which makes her extremely happy.

“I can barely feed myself but it’s more important to feed them,” she says. “It’s so important for kids to get nutritious food to help them grow.”

Grace points out how healthy food is often more expensive than processed and packaged goods, giving more affluent families an unfair advantage over less fortunate ones.

“We have problems with the kids getting obese because all we can get is junk food… It’s cheaper,” she explains.

Healthy food is vital for her grandkids who are going back to school this fall. A nutritious diet will help them focus in class, fight off illnesses, and grow to their full potential.

“This healthy food at the pantry helps,” Grace says. “My grandkids love going to the pantry. They get excited.”

When COVID broke out, Grace’s daughter decided to homeschool her kids to keep everyone safe and healthy. Unfortunately, when they were not in school, they were missing out on the free meals they would usually eat there.

But with your help, Grace can provide for her five grandkids and ensure their school year starts off on the right note!

“Without this food, I don’t know where I’d be,” she says with honesty. “I just want to say thank you very much to the donors who help get this food to us.”

Thank you for partnering with Food Bank of Iowa to share food and hope with families during this stressful time of year for parents and caretakers. We are in awe of everything you do!