DES MOINES, Iowa — Almost 100 organizations across Iowa have now signed a letter that outlines the impacts Summer EBT programs can have, asking lawmakers to prioritize it in legislation this session.
On Wednesday, these organizations brought their voices to the statehouse for a rally in the capitol.
"We have unfortunately reached a point that is just simply unsustainable," said Matt Unger, CEO of DMARC.
The push to embrace Summer EBT comes after Iowa Health and Human Services and Gov. Kim Reynolds declined to participate in the national program this year, citing a lack of nutritional focus. Now, organizations want legislators to sponsor legislation that would require Iowa to take part in the Summer EBT program.
"In 2023, Iowa summer meal sites assisted a daily average of 21,500 children, less than 10% the number of children who would benefit from Summer EBT," said Luke Elzinga, chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition.
Summer EBT would provide $120 worth of nutrition benefits to almost 245,000 children.
The organizations hope that this will be adopted for the summer of 2025 and continue each year.
"The summer my family received pandemic EBT, it made a major difference in our ability to afford milk and fresh produce at the end of the month," said Mandi Remington, founder of Corridor Community Action Network. "Today's advocacy is a collective call to action to bridge those gaps and ensure that no child goes hungry when school goes out."
Food banks, food pantries and other anti-hunger organizations have already seen record numbers of Iowans looking for assistance.
"There were entire towns, entire counties, entire legislative districts that had zero summer meal sites in 2023. I cannot think of another program with this kind of return on investment we're talking about either," Elzinga said.
Those rallying also added that the program was originally established by a bipartisan act of U.S. Congress, something they hope can swing support from both sides of the aisle in Iowa.
"We've breached well beyond the normal, if this were a weather situation, we would be declaring this a disaster and that is how we need to act in response to these historic numbers," Unger said.
Local 5 reached out to Gov. Kim Reynolds' office for comment, but have not yet heard back.