Iowa Hunger Summit - Iowans United in Fighting Hunger at Home and Abroad

Iowans Contribute $6.5 Million to the Fight Against Hunger

Over 17 million pounds of food and more than 438,000 volunteer hours also part of state’s collective efforts

Results from the Second Annual Iowa Hunger Summit

In 2007-2008:

At least $6.49 Million were donated by Iowans to organizations and agencies involved in fighting hunger.
17.2 million pounds of food were gathered or distributed, both around the state and internationally.

Over 438,000 hours were volunteered to Iowa anti-hunger advocacy projects or programs that provide food to those who need it.

Over 100 CROP walks, harvest walks or hunger hikes have been observed.

Many Iowans have held fasts in sympathy with those suffering from hunger.

Over 1,200 letters have been written to elected officials to raise awareness of hunger and improve access to aid.

Help us increase these numbers in 2009!

On Tuesday, October 14, 2008, several hundred leaders from community organizations, business and industry, state and local governments, social agencies, churches and religious communities, schools and universities, gathered in Des Moines for the Second Annual Iowa Hunger Summit.

The 2008 Iowa Hunger Summit focused in particular on the impact of hunger and children and efforts to reduce hunger and improve nutrition for children and families, both domestically and globally (learn more about the goals of the Iowa Hunger Summit).

At the event's Hunger Luncheon, it was announced that over the past year, Iowans from around the state and from a variety of backgrounds have contributed at least $6.49 million, over 17.2 million pounds of food and more than 438,000 volunteer hours to combat hunger both at home and abroad.

The numbers improved on the 2006-2007 totals announced at last year’s event.

“While there is still much to be done in our communities and in communities around the globe, we congratulate Iowans for their efforts and generosity,” said Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, which organizes the event. “Everyday Iowans deserve credit for their selfless acts to feed others and we hope that as the Iowa Hunger Summit continues to grow we will continue to see these numbers improve.”

With the bipartisan leadership of Iowa’s three former governors, the Iowa Hunger Summit took place in conjunction with a week-long series of events surrounding the awarding of the $250,000 World Food Prize – “the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture” – to former Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern for their efforts that have strengthened school-feeding programs and countered child malnutrition around the world. The World Food Prize was created by Iowa native and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug.

MORE ON THE 2008 IOWA HUNGER SUMMIT

The Hunger Luncheon featured simple meals representing Iowa-based programs for alleviating child and family hunger in its various forms.

Over 400 attended the Iowa Hunger Summit

Over 400 people from Iowa and beyond attended the second annual Iowa Hunger Summit.

James Moseley and Rep. Jim McGovern represented the McCain and Obama campaigns at the Iowa Hunger Summit

Former US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture James Moseley (left) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA, right) represented the McCain and Obama campaigns, respectively, at a forum moderated by WHO-TV personality John Bachman (center).

Hon. Parseko Kone, Commissioner of the Singida Region of Tanzania

Hon. Parseko Kone, Commissioner of the Singida Region of Tanzania, spoke on the impact of the Kids Against Hunger program that sends food to Tanzania.

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