Rep. Zach Nunn tours Food Bank of Iowa, meets leaders amid looming government shutdown concerns
As the government shutdown continues, food banks and pantries across the nation are bracing for the impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients not receiving their benefits at the start of November. On Monday, Republican Rep. Zach Nunn toured the location in Des Moines and spoke with some of the organization’s leaders, while meeting with staff and volunteers within the building.
“The main things we’re identifying is where there’s going to be real choke points for the ability to distribute and what things are needed if SNAP does not go forward,” Nunn said.
“For every one meal that is provided by the Food Bank of Iowa, nine are provided by SNAP,” said Tami Nielsen, the Food Bank of Iowa’s president and CEO.
While Nielsen says the organization will rise to the occasion as always, the impact of the possibility that SNAP benefits will not be issued Nov. 1 will be heavy.
It’s something Nunn noted as well when he spoke with journalists Monday after the tour.
“That means more Iowans are going to be looking to our partners here, particularly the food bank, to be able to provide those,” Nunn said. “The reality is right now, dysfunction in D.C. is on the verge of putting a lot of families right here in Iowa in a very tough spot.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said around as of May 2025.
The Food Bank of Iowa is the state’s largest Feeding America member. Through its 700 partners, the organization serves 55 of the 99 Iowa counties. It distributes more than two million pounds of food every month.
“They are stepping up because the federal government has failed to act,” Nunn said, highlighting the work of the Food Bank of Iowa, whose leaders say they’ve seen a record number of people seeking service for the last three years.
Following his tour with some Food Bank of Iowa leaders, Nunn addressed the government shutdown’s hand in the SNAP benefits concern.
“There’s politics on both sides of this, but let me be clear: the government needs to reopen for these folks. It's one of the reasons that we pushed again this week to make sure that we were able to pay our federal employees, pay our military troops and tragically that vote was again voted down for the 13th time in Washington,” Nunn said. “I do feel that there’s a pathway forward that both Republicans and Democrats should come together on because this is not a red or blue issue; this is a feeding our communities’ issue.”
As many across the country wait for lawmakers on Capitol Hill to agree to a deal, the Food Bank of Iowa team says even while approaching the busiest time of the year — it and its partners are ready to help.
“If kiddos and families are in need, there are 176 school pantries that serve,” Nielsen said. “We are ready. Our partners are ready.”
Over the last few weeks, there has been some uncertainty about what happens to unspent SNAP benefits from October after Nov. 1. vlog made sure to ask that question.
“The last I knew, they would be eligible to use any remaining benefits from October in the month of November,” said Emily Shearer, the vice president of food acquisition and advocacy with the Food Bank of Iowa. “Which is great news, but that’s if they had benefits left over.”
The USDA reports that as of May,, which is also known as WIC. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services website shows WIC is not impacted through the end of November.
Iowa food pantries brace for increased demand as SNAP benefits threatened by government shutdown
Iowa changes SNAP benefits to exclude sugary items
»
» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: |
