Gov. Kim Reynolds says she has ordered the Iowa National Guard to prepare to distribute food to hungry Iowans around the state and that Iowa will match $1 million in donations to local food banks as federal food assistance benefits are expected to lapse Nov. 1.

More than 260,000 Iowans will not receive monthly food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beginning Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown.

In a news release, Reynolds said she is directing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Volunteer Iowa to recruit volunteers to help distribute food assistance throughout the state. And she said she has ordered the Iowa National Guard to be prepared to conduct food distribution missions statewide "as needed."

And Iowa HHS will

See Full Page