The N.E. Iowa Food Bank Thanks The Cedar Valley

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is thanking everyone in the Cedar Valley who supported them by hosting, planning or taking part in their recent spring events.

During the last weekend in March, the Food Bank, along with the help of area grocery stores and volunteers, hosted Combat Hunger. The annual event calls on grocery shoppers to donate by adding $1 or $3 to their grocery bill. In just one weekend, the event collected more than $12,000 which is more than last year.

Local letter carriers were integral in planning, promoting and running the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the nation’s largest single day food drive. The event is always held the Saturday before Mother’s Day. More than 33,500 pounds of food and more than $250 were delivered to the Food Bank.

The annual event, Empty Bowls also made a positive impact this spring for the clients of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Guests of the event got to meet Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi. They also received a modest meal of soup and bread and were able to take home a hand-crafted bowl as a symbol of hunger in our community. That event brought in nearly $22,000 which is $5,000 more than last year’s event.

“These events help bring in food and funds as we prepare for the summer ahead. As schools close for the summer months, many children are left without the meals that they rely on through the free and reduced rate meal program,” - Barbara Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank provides nutritious food and grocery products, to about 200 nonprofit organizations and programs who assist the hungry, and to individuals who need food assistance to sustain life. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 6 million pounds of food within a 16-county service area.

The Food Bank provides eight programs that serve the community-Member Agency Distribution, Cedar Valley Food Pantry, the BackPack Program, Kids Cafe, Elderly Nutrition, Mobile Food Pantries, Summer Feeding and a Community Garden. Encompassing all of these programs is nutrition education. The Food Bank is a member of the Iowa Food Bank Association and Feeding America.