With Iowa’s 91st legislative session under way, there are opportunities to better our communities and our state. A few examples: a proposal to ban cell phones during school hours, allowing students to focus and learn. Another is the very real need for more affordable childcare. There is also a renewed focus on health outcomes, something Gov. Kim Reynolds emphasized in her Condition of the State Address given Iowa’s rising obesity and cancer rates.

Invest in programs that impact our most vulnerable
One way to ensure better health outcomes is to invest in programs that directly impact one of our most vulnerable populations – Iowans facing food insecurity. It’s no secret our neighbors experiencing food insecurity often have other health concerns like diabetes and high blood pressure. Why? Because the most nutrient-dense foods are the most expensive. People who need to stretch their very limited grocery budgets are going to choose foods that fill their stomachs, not necessarily those that offer the most balanced nutrition.

One program designed to improve nutrition and health is Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB). It complements the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by allowing participants to double their dollars on purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables, up to $15. That means an Iowan shopping at a participating grocer can use their SNAP card to purchase two cartons of strawberries instead of one, because DUFB doubles the impact of their SNAP benefit.

Everybody wins
It was heartening to see a bill asking for an appropriation of $1 million for DUFB so quickly introduced and unanimously passed out of subcommittee Jan. 22. I was fortunate to sit in on that meeting, where there was overwhelming support from community members and organizations. As a food sourcing manager at Food Bank of Iowa, a community member, a consumer and a mother, DUFB is a win-win-win-win.

The first win is for Iowans facing hunger. This program empowers recipients to choose fresh fruits and vegetables, something everyone wants but can’t necessarily afford. The second win is for hunger-relief organizations. We have all been working to meet record and rising demand for three years now, with no ceiling in sight. This is not sustainable.

The third win is for consumers and participating businesses. Because DUFB benefits must be spent in Iowa, there is a direct economic impact to our local communities. Participating retailers are more likely to purchase locally grown produce, increasing access for all consumers.

The final win is for parents and caregivers. Each night, when my child and I go through our bedtime routine, he will inevitably say to me, “my tummy is still hungry.” Sometimes it’s a ploy to delay bedtime, but more often than not, his tummy is still hungry, and I can’t imagine not being able to do something about it. There are so many parents who hear that same phrase each night but have nothing to give. They have already gone without themselves to ensure their child has something for dinner, and there is nothing left.

An investment in DUFB will put more fresh fruits and vegetables on Iowa tables, and most importantly, into hungry tummies. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support Double Up Food Bucks.

Emily Shearer is senior manager of food acquisition and advocacy at Food Bank of Iowa.