Nunn and Miller-Meeks' SNAP cuts force Iowa food banks to scramble for $170,000 and put free school meals on the chopping block
Iowa's six statewide food banks are warning that starting Oct. 1, federal funding for the SNAP hotline will be cut in half, forcing food banks to raise an additional $170,000 just to keep the line open.
The hotline serves as a critical lifeline for individuals and families facing crisis, and is often the first call a family makes when they don't know where their next meal is coming from. Today, Iowa's food banks pay half the cost of operating it while federal funding covers the rest. Beginning Oct. 1, federal funds will drop to cover just a quarter of the cost.
The cut was written into the Republican Tax Law, passed last summer with the votes of Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks. It also comes as the need for food assistance has never been higher. Over the past year, more than 5.6 million Americans, including nearly 24,000 Iowans, lost SNAP coverage.
As Iowa kids head back to school, the same SNAP cuts are threatening to follow them into the lunch line. Many students who receive free school breakfast and lunch automatically qualify because their household participates in SNAP or Medicaid, so a drop in SNAP enrollment directly shrinks kids' eligibility for free school meals.
Communities that offer universal free meals could soon lose that funding for entire schools and districts. Already in Rep. Nunn’s district, West Des Moines Schools are cutting back on the number of schools offering free meals for all students.
Amber, a small business owner and mother of three from Ankeny, said that Iowans losing resources like the hotline and guaranteed school meals is a troubling result of her Representative’s votes.
“This is exactly what Nunn voted for and it’s heartbreaking,” Amber said. “With the way grocery prices have gone up, everyone is feeling the pressure and it’s easy to connect the dots and explain why food banks and other supports are straining to keep up. Anyone could end up in a situation where they need to call the hotline for assistance, and now that lifeline might not be available. It’s cruel that he’s still proud of his votes for these cuts while they cause families to struggle to put food on the table and rip guaranteed meals from children.”