Governor Kim Reynolds August 15, 2024 announced the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) a 2025 SUN Bucks (Summer EBT program) waiver request to implement a summer feeding demonstration project aligned with our mutual goal to address summer food insecurity. The state’s proposed project would expand eligibility to serve more children, provide more food and better nutrition at a lower cost, leverage Iowa’s already established statewide network of summer feeding programs and partners, and offer a delivery option to improve access for families without transportation. 

“Together with Iowa HHS and the Department of Education, the state is proposing a summer feeding demonstration project better suited for our state’s specific needs and capabilities. Iowa’s plan is projected to feed nearly 60,000 more children at a lower cost than the SUN Bucks cash benefit, while utilizing existing infrastructure and promoting healthier options,” stated Governor Reynolds. “Last year, I invested $900,000 to expand two other USDA summer feeding programs operated by the Iowa Department of Education that provide healthy, balanced meals and snacks for school-age children statewide. Our plan for 2025 builds upon that concept to promote food security and better health for more Iowa children.”

The additional funding for Iowa’s 2024 summer feeding programs resulted in 61 new meal sites for a total of more than 500 across the state. These sites are located in a variety of settings, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries, and camps. Many sites also offer enrichment opportunities for children, such as reading, physical activity, and nutrition education. Iowa’s demonstration project will utilize these existing sites and networks.

Sustained inflation and high grocery prices nationwide are driving the demand for food assistance outside of traditional benefits. While enrollment in Iowa’s SNAP program has declined 7% and other nutrition assistance programs, such as WIC, are stagnant or declining, Iowa food banks and pantries have experienced record numbers of first-time and ongoing pantry users as 60% of food insecure Iowans are ineligible for SNAP due to income. 

By expanding eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level, the state’s demonstration project estimates serving 300,000 food insecure children, versus 244,000 through the SUN Bucks program. Equally important, the state’s project emphasizes nutrition to promote better health. The most recent State of Childhood Obesity Report ranked Iowa 18th highest in the nation for childhood obesity, while 37% of adult Iowans are obese.

“The complex issues of food insecurity and obesity cannot be solved with cash benefits that don't actively promote health, nutrition-dense food, or reach all Iowa children in need,” said Kelly Garcia, director of HHS. “In Iowa, our focus is on the comprehensive well-being of this generation of young Iowans. Our solutions to promote healthy behaviors and well-balanced, nutritious diets for children must be comprehensive and holistic.”

“The Iowa Department of Education remains committed to supporting students with healthy meals and food options throughout the school year and during the summer months. Our established summer feeding program and dedicated network of community-based providers help position Iowa to implement a demonstration project that best meets the needs of the children and families we serve,” said McKenzie Snow, Director of the Iowa Department of Education.

As proposed, the demonstration project would leverage bulk pricing to offer more food to families at a lower cost. With retail prices at least two to three times higher than wholesale prices, the state can stretch the dollars further and provide more healthy food to more hungry children.

Three monthly boxes with healthy foods would be available at distribution sites during the summer months. Iowa recognizes that for some families, transportation may be a barrier to access. For that reason, in contrast to the SUN Bucks program, Iowa’s demonstration program will include food box delivery options for families with transportation challenges. 

The summer feeding demonstration project is designed to meet the specific needs for feeding Iowa’s children, delivering nutritious food to more children than the USDA’s SUN Bucks Summer EBT program, while leveraging Iowa’s existing infrastructure. Additionally, it provides an important opportunity to better support children with wrap-around services, mitigate transportation challenges, and promote the whole health of Iowa’s children.