2008 Iowa Hunger Summit
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.
During the luncheon, numbers on donated money, volunteer hours, and food distributed were announced. 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.”
2008 Iowa Hunger Summit Itinerary:
9:00 a.m.
ISU Extension - Food Insecurity: Rising Fuel Costs and Rising Food Prices
10:00 a.m.
ISU Extension – Reflecting on Iowa's Changing Face of Family Hunger
11:00 a.m.
Iowa Department of Human Services - Enhancing State Efforts to Feed Iowa's Children
12:00 p.m.
Hunger Luncheon, featuring meals used by Iowa-based organizations in food assistance and hunger-relief efforts
Keynote Address: Eric Schockman, President, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
1:30 p.m.
Alliance to End Hunger - Presidential Campaign Perspectives on Hunger and Poverty
2:30 p.m.
Friends of the World Food Program - A Road Map to Ending Global Hunger
3:30 p.m.
Kids Against Hunger - Iowa Communities, International Action
Results from the 2008 Iowa Hunger Summit:
- 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 have been donated to fight hunger.
- More than 438,000 volunteer hours were provided to combat hunger both at home and abroad.