SNAP Shutdown: How food banks in Iowa are preparing for an end to family federal assistance

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) - Thousands of Iowa SNAP recipients could lose their benefits next month due to the partial federal government shutdown.

SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, now serves more than 250,000 Iowans. But that’s now in jeopardy because of the fight in Congress over how to fund the government.

The US Department of Agriculture informed state agencies that there would not be enough federal funding for November benefits unless federal funding resumes when the government fully re-opens. EBT cards, which is how recipients use SNAP benefits, will not be loaded with new money if the shutdown continues into November.the number of

Food banks and pantries across the state have already been hit hard with an increase in the number of peo