DES MOINES, Iowa — Food banks in Iowa are starting to worry about the upcoming summer after Gov. Kim Reynolds recently declined participation in Summer P-EBT, a federal food assistance program for low-income families.
There have been several reactions from Iowans since that decision was made, with impacted families already starting to look elsewhere for food assistance this summer.
Local food pantries hope to step up and fill the need, but that could prove to be difficult if the need continues to soar.
After a record-breaking year for the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) and their food pantry network in 2023, the organization is now sharing that over one-third of those in need of food assistance were minors.
"When we look at 65,000 people that came to a pantry in the past year, 37% of those were children," DMARC CEO Matt Unger told Local 5. "We're not talking about a small piece of the equation that would benefit from this program.”
Growing rates of food insecurity among children in Iowa could worsen this summer as a result. One in eight children in the state is currently facing hunger, according to the Food Bank of Iowa.
“Absent any huge policy changes, or some big break in the economy that I don't think anyone sees coming, we know that we're going to be in a bad spot again this summer," Unger said.
It’s an issue that Iowa Democrats are narrowing in on as they look ahead to a new legislative session.
"It does no good to leave kids hungry when there's money waiting to be used just for that purpose," said Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Windsor Heights.
Garriott, who works for DMARC, is encouraging her constituents to push back against Gov. Kim Reynolds and her decision to opt out of the program.
“Let her know that we should be taking this money and using it for Iowa kids, Iowa families, Iowa communities, and helping our neighbors in need," Garriott told Local 5.
Democrats also hope that the state will consider re-applying for the assistance, given the reaction from concerned Iowans who fear the summer ahead.
“The food insecurity that we're seeing in our state, it's never been this bad," Garriott said. "And our governor needs to act.”
Reynolds is set to hold a public budget hearing on Wednesday. Iowans can attend virtually and comment on the state’s budget for the 2025 fiscal year.
DMARC says they will have a representative in attendance to discuss their concerns.