DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the Pack the Pantry grant program to help Iowa food pantries meet increasing food demands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Pack the Pantry, food pantries can apply for grants to increase their refrigeration capacity, which allows them to offer more perishable, locally grown foods.
The program is made possible by CARES Act funding and is an initiative of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Feeding Iowans Task Force, led by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg. Iowa Egg Council is also contributing resources to support the effort.
Through Pack the Pantry, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will award local food pantries up to $10,000 to install refrigeration and cooler units. To apply, pantry directors should fill out the online application. The application will be open until July 17 at 11:59 p.m.
“In Iowa, we have seen our producers, business owners and families step up to help those in need,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Today’s announcement is a great next step to address food insecurity. The Pack the Pantry grant program will provide our food pantries with the tools they need to help even more Iowans have access to nutritious food.”
A summary of food resources available to those in need is available at coronavirus.iowa.gov.