CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Advocates with Iowa food banks criticized state officials for declining participation in the federal Summer EBT Program to provide children in need with additional food assistance when school is not in session.

The announcement that Iowa will participate in the Summer EBT program in 2026 brings a sense of relief to Marshall County residents fighting food insecurity.

Gov. Kim Reynolds made the reintegration announcement on Dec. 22. During the previous two years, she directed the state to not participate in the federal food program, resulting in an annual loss of $500,000 in food assistance for Marshall County.

Community Foundation of Marshall County Executive Director Julie Hitchins, who also serves on the Marshall County Food Access Committee, was surprised and happy to hear about the change.

“I think it’s great for the local economy, because those dollars will be spent in Marshalltown and Marshall County versus last summer when food was trucked in,” she said.

Hitchins is referring to the Healthy Kids Iowa feeding program during which children were provided a $40 box of healthy food – produce, meats, dairy and whole grains – each summer month. Marshalltown received food shipments from the Food Bank of Iowa, and volunteers at the Emergency Food Box took care of distribution.

The state gave them the task of feeding 1,000 children in June, July and August and the Salvation Army was to feed 400 each month. Rules were provided on how much of each food type were to be included in the boxes.

Hitchins said by bringing back Summer EBT, it will give families a choice of food once again.

“Not all of us like Chef Boyardee, and that was one of the items last summer,” she said. “There was a protein drink, and some people might want a gallon of milk. It’s better that families will have a choice and we are getting the impact of the money.”

A survey was provided to families who participated in Healthy Kids throughout the state. One question asked was if the family would choose Healthy Kids or Summer EBT and 57 percent chose the latter. Having a choice in food selection was the primary reason most of the 57 percent preferred Summer EBT.

The choices for families will be limited this summer, as the same restrictions the state implemented into SNAP will apply to Summer EBT, such as not being able to purchase carbonated beverages and sugary foods. The SNAP restrictions will go into effect on Thursday.

The impact of not having the federal government was apparent in little food pantries dotted throughout the county. Hitchins said the East Marshall Community School District student group — Students Empowering and Leading (SEAL) — noticed a significant increase in the usage of the three pantries they stock.

“There was an increase over the summer,” she said. “It was evident not everyone could make it to Marshalltown for the summer feeding program because of transportation.”

Hitchins volunteered at the Food Box during the summer to help with the Healthy Kids Iowa distribution, and she learned that they did not see a lot of families from outside of Marshalltown. Not only did they lack transportation to get there, but they also did not have the time to pick up the box within the limited time frame.

“The Summer EBT will be better to serve all of the citizens of Marshall County, not just Marshalltown,” she said.

Hitchins does not know for sure what prompted the state to make the change, but hopes it was the loud voices of Iowans regarding the lack of resources and the burden placed on food banks.

“All food banks and organizations had double the work,” she said. “As a 100-percent volunteer organization, that is huge. They were asking a lot of volunteers. Hopefully it was their voices and the voices of grocers who felt the impact of losing those local dollars.”

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.