April 2015

Iowa nonprofit launches innovative RAGBRAI fundraiser

Global Compassion Network, an Iowa nonprofit most known for their Safe T Home® (a Sukup grain bin turned into housing for needy families in Haiti) will be building a Safe T Home® along the RAGBRAI route this year. Overnight towns: Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Hiawatha, Coralville- July 19-25, 2015.

They are currently requesting help from churches and businesses in each of the overnight towns to host their Safe T Home on their property and provide water hookup.  They need a big enough space for their Safe T Home, a camper, a truck and trailer, a couple tents, etc. This could be a great way for a local business to draw more attention to their store.

They also need 15 volunteers in each overnight town to set up and take down the Safe T Home and to help run a portable shower as a donation-based fundraiser.

For location suggestions, please contact Julie Anderson at 712-887-0150 or danderson1466@gmail.com. Volunteers should email Mary Graham at mary@globalcn.us to express their interest in helping.

Underused tax credit rewards Iowa's growers for fresh food donations

An underutilized state tax incentive helps growers maximize their contributions to participating food banks and pantries, giving the gift of fresh and healthy food to Iowans who need it most. The Farm to Food Tax Donation Credit allows taxpayers to receive a 15% tax credit, up to $5,000, in return for fresh produce, meat, and other wholesome food items donated during the tax year.

The Drake University Agricultural Law Center has prepared a set of documents, available at www.law.drake.edu/aglaw, to help producers and food organizations understand and use the Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit.

For more information, please contact Mr. Aaron Jaco at aaron.jaco@drake.edu or 515-779-0526.

Question of the month:

In March, we asked whether you believe that we can eliminate hunger in Iowa by 2030. Here are your responses:

“No. Ending hunger requires passion and effort of all three-million Iowans. Trying to influence the mindsets of certain political and moral traditions, which currently hamper efforts, is a long and frustrating process. It is my goal to continually decrease the number of food-insecure Iowans over the next 15 years - as has trended the past three years.” – Anonymous Respondent

“No. Income inequality is continuing to increase with no indication that there will be effective political changes made to halt its progress. If we stay on the present course (in regard to US policy on minimum wage, food assistance, poverty, declining middle class, etc.), more people will be hungry rather than fewer.” – Anonymous Respondent