Horizons Communities Fight Food Insecurity

With today's tight economy, more households are challenged to provide adequate food for their families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "the number of U.S. households unable to put adequate food on the table increased sharply during the latest recession, reaching the highest level recorded since USDA began monitoring household food security in 1995." The challenge becomes even greater in small rural communities with high rates of poverty.

Extension's Response...

Several communities in the Horizons Community Leadership Program to Reduce Poverty have made fighting food insecurity a priority. ISU Extension facilitates the Horizons program to help communities build stronger leaders to address economic issues and find ways to implement change. The program is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation. Extension implements Horizons in partnership with Iowa citizens in communities with populations below 5,000 and a poverty rate above 10 percent. Horizon communities are taking action against food insecurity in a variety of ways.

Olin and Oxford Junction believed community gardens had the potential to reduce the amount of money families spend on food and increase the nutritional content of meals. Involving youth of all income levels provided an opportunity to introduce the life skills of gardening and food preparation, encourage consumption of more fruits and vegetables, increase physical activity, and increase nutrition knowledge. Hazleton set up a new nonprofit, the Hazleton Horizons Community Betterment Group, and established a new community garden as a means for local people to raise their own produce and lower their grocery bills. A local community garden in Lamont continues to expand efforts with a garden center offering fresh produce for freewill donations. Recent funding has made refrigeration available.

The Brighton Horizons food security committee led the effort to establish an Angel Food Ministries site. This nonprofit, non-denominational organization provides food relief to communities through quality food packages of fresh and frozen items as well as specialty boxes. Total cost is approximately half the retail value of the items. No applications or special qualifications are required. Angel Food Ministries also accepts electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. In addition, local groups worked together to provide free food distribution.

Dunlap established a community food pantry. The planning committee partnered with a small food pantry at a local church and relocated to the local American Legion building to provide for a larger community-wide food pantry. A community member purchased shelving from a store going out of business and then donated it to the pantry. The committee made contact with other start-up food pantries, elected a board of directors, wrote by-laws, and researched 501c3 status. An account was set-up at the local bank for monetary donations. Churches, scouts, mail carriers, and the local grocery store helped gather food and non-perishable items for the pantry.

Results

In a depressed economy, where many are unemployed, under-employed, on a limited fixed income, or just having a hard time making ends meet, Horizons communities are helping their residents with basic food and household needs.

Together Olin and Oxford Junction received a $3,500 community development initiative grant from the local community action agency for their community gardens. Horizons steering committee members are mentoring youth and providing education on gardening with guidance from ISU Extension. Already youth are sharing fresh produce with their families.
Olin also received $3,525 in community development grant funds to pilot a backpack program to provide nutritious food for youth who participate in the free and reduced lunch program. The program is continuing with donations from businesses, fundraisers, and food drives. In fall 2010 Olin received a Theisen's grant for $2,200 to continue the backpack program.
The Brighton Angel Food Ministries program continues to expand outreach in the community and provide those in need of food security with more resources. The Lutheran Church in rural Brighton and the local community action agency also teamed up to distribute free food, assisting more than 20 families since March 2010. In addition, the Brighton Lions Club distributed food baskets during the holiday season to more than 20 families.
As one volunteer stated, "You can't go anywhere in Dunlap anymore where you don't have to bring a donation for the pantry!" A competition at Boyer Valley High School resulted in 858 pounds of donated groceries for Dunlap's pantry. A collection box at a local grocery store makes it easy for community members to donate items while shopping. Monetary donations fund vouchers that food pantry clients can use at the local grocery store. In 2009, the pantry served 178 people. The Dunlap Food Pantry committee has been contacted by the nearby Horizons community of Woodbine, which is interested in starting its own community food pantry.

As Horizons communities take local action against food insecurity, they also are demonstrating what dedicated citizens can accomplish and serving as an example for communities across the state. Lamont resident Joyce Geistkemper said it well: "We realized that poverty is not only low income but the attitude that many of us have toward the community and activities. Since the Horizon program we have had members come forward to volunteer and come up with ideas for the community."

Contact

Ruth Freeman, Horizons Director, 515-386-3611

Acknowledgements

Mary Beth Kaufman, Family Finance Program Specialist
Phyllis Zalenski, Family Finance Program Specialist
Nancy Adrian, Washington County Administrative Assistant
Rosemary Brimmer, Buchanan County Head Office Assistant
Amy Kelly, Buchanan County Outreach Coordinator
Jacki Luckstead, 4H Youth Development Program Specialist