Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Food Reservoir received $75,000 from The Wellmark Foundation

Grant provides the equivalent of 450,000 meals

The Wellmark Foundation announced it has provided a $75,000 grant to the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) Food Reservoir resulting in a contribution of the equivalent of 450,000 meals. The donation will help support the growing number of requests that HACAP is receiving for food assistance as a result of COVID-19.

'No Iowan should wonder how they will provide food for their family,” said Lieutenant Governor and Feeding Iowa Task Force lead Adam Gregg. 'The Wellmark Foundation's generous donation will ensure the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Food Reservoir has the resources to provide food for those who need it most.”

Food-insecure individuals are defined as those who face barriers in accessing nutritious foods. However, with more families dealing with recent furloughs or layoffs and children out of school, demands on HACAP have increased at record levels. Food insecurity can impact a child's ability to learn, can lead to poor growth, poor lifelong eating habits and increased obesity rates.

'Having access to healthy and nutritious food is a basic need,” said Becky Wampler Bland, executive director of The Wellmark Foundation. 'This grant from the Wellmark Foundation will help fill a critical gap for Iowans - at a time when it is needed most. We are proud to support the HACAP's tireless commitment to providing nutritious food for Iowans in these trying times.”