Approximately 7.3% of Iowans are food insecure, meaning they do not have the ability to acquire nutritionally adequate and safe foods in socially acceptable ways.
This translates to nearly 230,000 Iowans being forced to make tough decisions about providing food for their families or paying their rent or mortgage, paying for transportation, or paying for medical bills.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is available to assist these individuals, but many individuals do not apply to receive benefits.
IFBA SNAP Hotline
Iowans can call the Iowa Food Bank Association Hotline to complete and submit their Food Assistance application over the phone. The Hotline – (855) 944.FOOD (3663) – is open 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday with additional assistance provided after hours on high volume call days.
The Hotline is a part of the Iowa Food Bank Association outreach program. It is made possible through funding from the IFBA member food banks and the United States Department of Agriculture through an ongoing partnership with the Iowa Department of Human Services. USDA and IFBA prohibit discrimination in any form. Please click here for additional information.
Do You Think You Are Eligible for SNAP?
Many Iowans may be eligible but have not applied. To apply, call the IFBA SNAP Hotline at (855) 944.FOOD(3663) or review their guidelines. Every household is different, so it's important you have someone review your specific case.
SNAP Outreach
IFBA is in an optimal position to reach individuals who have not applied for SNAP benefits with measures that will counter the reasons individuals may have not applied. Collaboratively, the association's food bank members provide grocery products to more than 1,000 partner agencies throughout the state that are serving hungry individuals. IFBA works with these agencies to reach individuals who are eligible for SNAP, but have not applied.
Mobile Access Points are wireless enabled netbooks or laptops with a food bank outreach specialist or employee at targeted emergency feeding sites. The sites are chosen based on community need, and the lack of a full time Department of Human Service (DHS) office in the county. While at the site, the trained IFBA SNAP Outreach Specialist will assist individuals in accessing the DHS Online Application for State of Iowa Services (OASIS) website. OASIS is an online joint application for SNAP and other funding sources for needy individuals.
Mobile Pantries are used Mobile Access Points in regions that do not have adequate access to SNAP programs such as food pantries. This program allows food banks to create access points while serving communities that lack adequate access to other forms of SNAP. A food bank partners with a community organization in the underserved area to find space and volunteers to implement a mobile pantry. The food bank transports an amount of food based on the estimated number of participants to the designated location. Mobile pantries will be utilized as SNAP Mobile Access Points.
Per, USDA, for every dollar in new SNAP benefits, $1.80 is generated in economic activity. SNAP works for Iowa.
Partners and Funders
The Iowa Food Bank Association is funded in part by USDA, an equal opportunity and employer, through the Iowa Department of Human Services. A generous matching grants has been provided by the Black Hawk County Community Foundation.