POLK COUNTY, Iowa —

Polk County supervisors on Thursday voted unanimously to approve $1 million in emergency funding to help feed residents during the ongoing SNAP suspension, with checks already cut to recipients.

The county allocated $750,000 to the Food Bank of Iowa, $230,000 to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) and $20,000 to Caring Hands.

The resolution faced no opposition.

“If we have to come back and dig deeper and find more dollars … which we are prepared to do, we will do that,” Board Chair Matt McCoy said, signaling the county could add more funding if the suspension lingers.

Luke Elzinga, policy and advocacy manager at DMARC, said the infusion arrives amid unprecedented demand.

“This Monday, we broke a new record at our food pantry network, assisting almost 2,5

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