News and Community Voices

Every day, Food Bank for the Heartland works with community leaders, donors, volunteers, and Network Partners to create a healthier Heartland. Learn more about the latest developments in the fight against hunger and the work being done to help our neighbors in need.

Photo collage of girl holding lunch bag, grandparent with grandchild, boy looking at the camera with a soft smile, and woman holding bag of groceries

Op-Ed: Heartland families are facing a hunger crisis

On May 17, 2024, Brian Barks, President and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland, and Michaella Kumke, President and CEO of Food Bank of Lincoln developed a joint op-ed showcasing the latest hunger statistics from Feeding America, and how Heartland families have been affected.

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Western Iowa Food Pantry Sees Increased Demand

Donations to food banks and food pantries tend to down in the summer, but hunger is often higher during summer months when kids are home from school. In Atlantic, a drive-thru food pantry has seen an increase in demand because of inflation and a reduction in COVID-era federal programs.

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Current & Upcoming Events

Hy-Vee 100 Million Meals Challenge

Hy-Vee and Feeding America 100 Million Meals Challenge: We Still Need Your Help!

Last year, Hy-Vee and Feeding America announced an ambitious challenge—to raise the funds and donations equivalent to 100 million meals. So far, Hy-Vee has raised 62 million meals across their region. Your help is still needed! 100% of the money you donate to your local Hy-Vee stores directly benefits Food Bank for the Heartland. Please be sure to share the challenge with your friends and family. The need has never been greater in our community—join the challenge today!

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Woodhouse BackPack Match

1 in 5 Heartland children is facing hunger. Woodhouse Auto Family has stepped up to help with a $500,000 match for our BackPack Program, which provides weekend meals for 8,357 children each week during the school year.

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Featured Story

The Dish: Our Quarterly Newsletter

The Dish: Summer 2024 Edition

Learn how your support gave one woman the hope to overcome adversity and how your support affects the Food Bank’s mission, discover the harsh truths of rising food insecurity across the Heartland, become a Monthly Meal Maker to offer assurance to our community, and more.

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The Dish: Spring 2024 Edition

Learn how your support helped one woman spread hope after overcoming adversity, discover how you can step up to the plate and Strike Out Hunger this summer, celebrate National Volunteer Month, honor loved ones with a tribute gift, and join us in remembering Susan Ogborn, the Food Bank’s former President and CEO, and more.

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Winter 2024 edition of The Dish

The Dish: Winter 2024 Edition

Learn how a Food Bank program is helping families thrive, discover how you can help children facing food insecurity through a generous match, read about ways you can make your voice heard in the fight against hunger, get your tickets to Celebrity Chef, and more!

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The Dish: Fall 2023 Edition

Learn how you are delivering hope across the Heartland, see highlights from last year, discover how to create a lasting impact and feed future generations, see upcoming events, and more.

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