52,000...that's how many of our friends and neighbors in northeast Iowa are expected to be at risk of experiencing hunger in the coming months. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, along with August’s devastating derecho here in Iowa, now more than ever, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank needs support from you in the fight against hunger.

A month where our community, county, state and the rest of the country, come together in support of our nation's hunger relief efforts and dedicate themselves to finding a solution.

“It’s entirely likely that there is a crisis coming unlike anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression. 43,000 people didn’t have enough to eat before northeast Iowa weathered the pandemic and our recent derecho,” said Barb Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, in a press release. “By the end of 2020, 1 in 7 of our neighbors will face hunger. In 2019, it was 1 in 19.” "Looking ahead, we can expect a 21% increase in demand.”

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month activities include the release of their brand new ‘I’m Hungry For Change’ sweatshirts. They're on sale for a limited amount of time, click here to order. The sentiment seems to go perfectly with everything going on in the world.

Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
Courtesy - NE IA Food Bank
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At Northeast Iowa Food Bank.org you can learn more about how they're partnering with local restaurants, where a portion of your purchase dining out will be donated to the food bank. You can also learn more about virtual events going on all month long. Unfortunately, the "Stone Soul Picnic" was just one many cancellations this year. Instead of a day of live music, organizers decided to hold a fundraiser for the food bank on-line.

Other scheduled activities include, releasing budget-friendly recipes and food hacks online, collaborating with several local restaurants to hold special give back nights, and partnering with TapOnIt to hold a fundraiser through their mobile deals platform. These are just a few of the Food Bank’s scheduled activities, with more to take place throughout the month.

Finally, with this surge in the need for assistance, the Food Bank is emphasizing that help is needed now more than ever before. If you're interest in volunteering, learn more here.

Prather added: “We know COVID-19, and the aftermath of the derecho, will have lasting impacts on our community. With elevated unemployment and poverty rates, we predict a surge in need that will last years,” “We don't want to just endure this crisis-we want to come out stronger and in a better position to serve our community.”

If I know Iowans, like I think I know Iowans, you will Barb, you definitely will.

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