DAVENPORT, IA – River Bend Food Bank is urgently raising $145,000 in cash donations as part of Gov. Kim Reynolds call on Iowans to donate to local food banks in response to the federal SNAP freeze.
Reynolds announced on Oct. 30 that Health and Human Services will match all cash donations to Iowa’s six regional food banks beginning on Nov. 1 up to $1 million. River Bend Food Bank will receive a maximum of $145, 418 in matching funds for SNAP benefit lapse funding from the state for all donations received starting now. If SNAP benefits are restored in November, only the cash donations already received will be matched.
Donations through the state’s matching program must be used only for food purchases and food banks are required to distribute food to their hunger-relief partners in November.
“We are experiencing a surge in demand at our pantry sites in these challenging times,” River Bend Food Bank President Chris Ford said. “It is essential we tap all available resources for those experiencing hunger and that includes securing the full amount of available matching funds from Iowa.”
Financial donations are more effective than food donations because of River Bend Food Bank’s buying power with retail partners. Donate today at riverbendfoodbank.org/donate.