Iowa, in the United States, has had the issues of food security for so long now. Access to a basic and healthy diet is not so basic in this part of the country. Almost 350,000 people in which there are more than 120,000 children have to struggle for food on a day to day basis.
Students at Iowa University have to walk miles to reach a pantry that supports their basic food requirements. Being the only pantry in the complete area, students have no other option than to rely on the pantry.
A survey conducted in 2018 states that the average income of a student who works part-time is about $11. A huge chunk, around 80% of that income goes to monthly rent and the rest to food and other basic amenities. Families have gone from being non-vegetarian to vegetarians or vegans to save money or to satisfy their basic needs.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, there are four levels of food security. These range from high food security to marginal to low to very low food security. Feeding America’s reports have stated that a basic meal costs around $2.70 in the state of Iowa. Considering this, to meet the hunger demands of the state, funds around 160 million are required every year.
Food insecurity in Iowa has been an issue for years
Iowa University students feed on the diet of Pizza and Ramen noodles, which is simply not healthy. Having a pantry in the city has made life easier though for everyone. Fresh food, fresh meat, milk and local produces have been made accessible by the pantry, which runs on the donations and contributions of the University of Iowa’s gardeners.
According to various government surveys, poverty levels have increased to 28% and the people under the federal poverty line in Iowa have increased from 28% to 36% in the past 20 years. Under such circumstances, where people starve and are food insecure, it remains impossible for an economy to survive or to contribute to the nation’s growth.
