Food for Thought Meetings Tackle Food Insecurity in North-Central Iowa
September 30, 2014
A Food for Thought meeting in Storm Lake on September 25 th brought together over 50 participants
to discuss food insecurity in Buena Vista, Sac and Calhoun counties. Organized by the Food Bank of
Iowa, the dialogue included perspectives from government officials, university staff, students, church
leaders, school administrators, and area food pantries. Discussion topics included healthy eating, the
HUSH and BackPack programs of the Food Bank of Iowa, volunteer recruitment and retention, food
rescue and transportation for people to gain access to healthy food.
Conclusions included:
A major constraint to area food assistance programs is the difficulty in recruiting and retaining
regular volunteers. Discussion participants suggested more targeted outreach to churches,
youth groups & schools.
Food rescue efforts may need to be expanded. These efforts currently include a partnership
between Community Basket Ida, The Bridge, Pizza Hut, and Sodexho. Meat food rescue
operations such as Food for Life at a locker in Paullina are seen as particularly valuable.
The Good Samaritan Act protects restaurants and others who donate food in good faith from
liability.
The Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit supports farmers who donate food to food banks and
pantries.
Page | 66