Mobile Food Pantry

One in 14 Iowans is facing hunger. Iowa has many resources to help, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, dhs.iowa.gov/food-assistance, food banks, and food pantries—including mobile pantries!

Iowa Food Bank’s mobile pantry operates in 30 counties; many provide a drive-thru option. How does the mobile food pantry work?

  • Trucks deliver produce, meat, bread, and nonperishable items to the prearranged site.
  • Local volunteers set up a farmers market-style distribution system.
  • Food is given to people in need at the scheduled time.
  • Participants stay in the vehicle and unlock the trunk or backseat.
  • Volunteers safely place a prepackaged food box or bag in the designated area.
  • Volunteers reset the space to its original condition when the food is gone.

To see if there is a mobile food pantry near you, family, or friends who may be in need, visit Food Bank of Iowa, go.iastate.edu/RZLEVJ.

Go SNAP, For Healthy Foods

More than 38 million adults and children in the United States are going hungry. In Iowa, 1 in 11 Iowans face hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest anti-hunger federal program. It fights poverty by improving access to affordable and nutritious food. SNAP allows individuals and families with limited income to buy food. It can also be used to buy seeds and plants to grow food.

People can use SNAP benefits at grocery stores, convenience stores, and even farmers markets, bit.ly/3B6xYdc! Farmers markets sell fresh, local produce that help you enjoy the taste of summer.

If you need help completing the online or paper application, you may contact your local DHS office. You can also call the Iowa SNAP Hotline, 855-944-3663, to speak with someone who can help with the SNAP application. The hotline is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sources:
Food Bank of Iowa, foodbankiowa.org
Food Security in the U.S., bit.ly/3sWyiI8

Categories