The World Food Prize Foundation

January 2017

Partnership between the Iowa Egg Council and Fareway leads to Collaboration with the Food Bank of Iowa

Partnership and collaboration. These are the key elements in creating a sustainable and efficient food system in Iowa. Through the partnership of individuals, organizations and local businesses we, as a community, can create collaborative initiatives to support a sustainable food system with the ability to feed everyone.

One such initiative took place this past December as the Iowa Egg Council and Fareway Stores, Inc. partnered to provide a truckload of fresh eggs to the homes of Iowans through a collaborative campaign with the Food Bank of Iowa. Between December 19-24, Fareway Stores across the state held a buy two, give one promotion on eggs. For every two dozen eggs purchased, one dozen eggs were donated to the Food Bank of Iowa.

The donation of eggs from individuals is often times a rarity for Food Banks, which means they are reliant upon the partnerships of egg producers, wholesalers, and retailers. These partnerships are imperative, as they provide access to a food source naturally containing 13 essential vitamins and minerals, including naturally occurring vitamin D. In addition, eggs are fundamental in providing necessary nutrients needed for fetal development, cell and eye health. 

"We strive to provide the best balance of nutritional foods to our partners and our clients," said Michelle Book, President & CEO of Food Bank of Iowa. "This generous partnership between Iowa's egg producers and Fareway Stores has provided us with a wonderful donation of healthful food that will make a difference for our neighbors in need. We are very grateful for their help and partnership."

The truckload of donated eggs was distributed to members of the Iowa Food Bank Association: Food Bank of Iowa, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Food Bank for the Heartland, HACAP Food Reservoir, River Bend Foodbank, Food Bank of Southern Iowa, Food Bank of Siouxland, and St. Stephen's Food Bank.

To connect further with the Iowa Egg Council, contact:
Katie Nola
Director of Consumer Affairs with the Iowa Egg Council
katie@iowaegg.org
515-727-4701 Ext. 110

For media inquiries, contact:
Danny Akright
Communications Manager
Food Bank of Iowa
dakright@foodbankiowa.org
515-564-0330

Summer Feeding

Help Ensure That No Child Goes Hungry this Summer

Did you know that 1.2 million meals and snacks were served to Iowa children this past summer via the Summer Food Service Program? Even with this, an estimated 180,000 low-income Iowa children did not have access to summer meal sites.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program is designed to provide nutritious breakfast, lunch, and supper meals or snacks to children during the summer.  How can your organization get involved?  

Choose to sponsor a program.  Schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based and other private non-profit organizations may become program sponsors.  If your organization already provides services to the community, has capable staff and good management practices to run a food service, you can administer the Summer Food Service Program.

Choose to be a meal service site.  Sites may be located in a variety of settings, including parks, community buildings, churches, migrant centers, schools, and apartment complexes to name just a few.  Do you provide programming to youth over the summer?  You may be well positioned to offer summer meals in conjunction with the services you already provide.

Promote summer meal sites in your area.  Help spread the word to children and families in your community about the time and location of summer meal sites.  Promote summer meals via your organization newsletters, bulletins, and website and hang banners and posters onsite.

Choose to partner with summer meal sites.  Volunteer to provide activities for kids and teens or help to serve and supervise the meal service.  Even if your organization cannot take on the responsibilities of a sponsor or site, you can team up with a sponsor to provide support to an existing program.  Site programming can assist with bringing children back to the site in addition to keeping them mentally and physically active over the summer.  

If you are an organization with a licensed kitchen and food service staff, you can also choose to partner by vending meals to a sponsoring organization.

An informational webinar will be held on Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Join us to learn more about the program and what is involved.  Help to counter this summer hunger gap.  To register for the webinar, go to the Iowa Department of Education Calendar.   

 

For more information contact:

Stephanie Dross, RDN, LD

FFVP & SFSP Consultant

Iowa Department of Education

Bureau of Nutrition & Health Services

515.281.4760

Stephanie.Dross@iowa.gov

Photos submitted by:

Saydel CSD, Woodside Middle School SFSP, Ottumwa YMCA SFSP & the Dubuque Dream Center SFSP

© 2024 The World Food Prize Foundation. All Rights Reserved.