Record number seek food assistance
Des Moines, Iowa — In May, Food Bank of Iowa partners served the highest number of individuals in the organization’s 40-year history, CEO Michelle Book announced today.
Food Bank of Iowa’s 700 partners include community pantries, shelters, day care facilities and meal sites in 55 of the state’s 99 counties. 200 of those partners are in Polk County.
Pantries stocked by Food Bank of Iowa report serving 121,714 individuals in May 2022. That number is about 2,000 higher than the next-closest month, November 2020, during the height of COVID-19.
Book said the numbers support what the food bank has been seeing since April. Rising food, fuel and housing costs and elimination of SNAP emergency allotments and other government support have left many working Iowans struggling to make ends meet. In some cases, Food Bank of Iowa partners report serving double, triple and even quadruple the numbers of pantry guests from just a few months ago.
“We have entered a new frontier in terms of need,” Book said. “Food Bank of Iowa remains committed to providing food for children, families, seniors and veterans in these uncertain economic times.”
Food Bank of Iowa delivered 1.6 million pounds of food to its partners in May (the largest May ever) and the same number of pounds in June.
If you need help, or if you can help, go to www.foodbankiowa.org.
Media Contact
Annette Hacker, Food Bank of Iowa, 515-867-2885, ahacker@foodbankiowa.org
About Food Bank of Iowa
In its 40th year, Food Bank of Iowa provides food for Iowa children, families, seniors and veterans to lead full and active lives, strengthening the communities where they live. Serving 55 of Iowa’s 99 counties, Food Bank of Iowa delivered more than 17 million pounds of food to its 700 partners last year.
Any organization or individual interested in joining the fight for a hunger-free Iowa can volunteer, donate and find advocacy information at www.foodbankiowa.org.