Iowans Struggle with Food Insecurity as State Opts Out of Federal Summer Meal Program

As the summer break approached in Lisbon, Iowa, school-aged children unexpectedly sought assistance from the Southeast Linn Community Center, a scene that had never occurred before. This incident was a harbinger of the challenges that would unfold across the state, as Iowa's decision to forgo a federal program aimed at providing direct food aid to families during the summer months left many communities grappling with rising food insecurity.

Tackling Childhood Hunger: Iowa's Divergent Approach

The Missed Opportunity of Summer EBT

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds' administration opted not to participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program, which would have provided eligible families with $120 per child per month on an EBT card to spend on groceries. Instead, the state launched its own initiative, the SUN Bucks program, which aimed to distribute boxes of food to be picked up at participating sites across the state.The decision to forgo the federal program was met with criticism from anti-hunger advocates, who argued that the SUN Bucks program lacked the flexibility and choice that the Summer EBT program would have provided. The state's program, which allocated $900,000 in competitive grants to local organizations to expand summer meal sites, was seen as a less comprehensive solution to the problem of childhood hunger during the summer months.

The Impact on Rural Communities

The absence of a Summer EBT program was particularly felt in rural communities like Lisbon, where families faced challenges accessing the new summer meal sites. Executive Director Nicole McAlexander of the Southeast Linn Community Center reported a significant increase in food distribution, with the center's food distribution rising from 4,000 pounds in July 2023 to 5,232 pounds a year later.The lack of a Summer EBT program created a gap for families who could not easily travel to summer meal sites in larger cities, forcing them to rely heavily on local community centers and food pantries to meet their needs. This trend was echoed across the state, as food pantries and community centers reported a surge in demand and a strain on their resources.

The Statewide Impact: Soaring Food Insecurity

The decision to forgo the federal Summer EBT program had far-reaching consequences for Iowa's families. Nearly 111,000 children in the state, or roughly 15% of the youth population, were classified as food insecure in 2022, according to the most recent data from Feeding America.The impact was particularly acute during the summer months, as families who had previously relied on free or reduced-price school meals were left without that support. Food pantries and community centers across the state reported record-breaking levels of need, with the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry network assisting 28,000 people in a single month, a record high.The North Liberty Community Pantry, for example, doubled the amount of food it distributed in the past two years, and the Coralville Community Food Pantry experienced a 24% increase in pounds of food distributed within the same period. These organizations attributed the surge in demand to the lack of Summer EBT benefits, as well as other factors such as rising prices, stagnating wages, and the expiration of pandemic-related assistance programs.

Criticism and Alternatives: Exploring Solutions

The governor's decision to opt out of the federal Summer EBT program and instead implement the SUN Bucks program has faced criticism from anti-hunger advocates. They argue that the SUN Bucks program, which provides pre-packaged boxes of food, limits food choice and fails to address the diverse dietary needs and preferences of Iowa's families.In contrast, the Summer EBT program would have provided families with the flexibility to make their own food choices, allowing them to meet their dietary needs based on allergies, cultural preferences, or religious guidelines. Advocates have also pointed to a USDA grant program that offers $100 million to help states reduce the administrative costs of implementing Summer EBT, which could have made the program more feasible for Iowa.As the state awaits the USDA's decision on its waiver request to implement the SUN Bucks program, lawmakers and anti-hunger advocates are exploring alternative solutions. State Senator Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, has pledged to introduce legislation to require free school breakfast and lunch in the upcoming legislative session, recognizing the need to address the root causes of food insecurity in Iowa.