Nonprofit organizations and governmental groups are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Food Stamp Act of 1964, which established the program now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Food Stamp Act of 1964 was signed into law on August 31, 1964, by President Lyndon Johnson.
“We are proud to celebrate 60 years of SNAP, which has helped countless Iowa families supplement their food budgets and work towards self-sufficiency over the years,” said Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. “Through the SNAP program, we have partnered closely with Iowa food retailers to ensure easy access to nutritious food. Iowa HHS is committed to the overall wellness and health of Iowa families and providing them with resources and support to thrive.”
“SNAP benefits are a nutrition lifeline for millions of Americans,” said Vista Fletcher, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Midwest Regional Administrator. “SNAP helps millions of Americans ensure they have access to nutritious food, which is essential for maintaining health and well-being.”
“For decades, SNAP has helped tens of millions of families afford to put food on the table,” said Salaam Bhatti, SNAP Director at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). “Still, the average SNAP benefit is only $5.57 per person per day for Iowans. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of this important program, we will continue our work to protect and strengthen SNAP. Hungry people can’t wait.”
There are currently 266,000 Iowans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, making up 7.4% of the state’s population. The average SNAP benefit for households in Iowa is $324 per month. SNAP contributes an estimated $68 million in total economic activity in the state of Iowa every month.
“For many Iowans, there is a misalignment between household income and the costs to support their family,” said Kelli Soyer, President & CEO for United Ways of Iowa. “During difficult times, SNAP provides access to nutritious food. As we honor the 60th Anniversary of SNAP, we acknowledge the program’s positive impact to support Iowans and communities across the state.”
“As we commemorate the anniversary of SNAP, it is important to acknowledge the positive impact SNAP has in the fight against hunger across the nation and in Iowa,” said Linda Gorkow, Executive Director of the Iowa Food Bank Association. “The Iowa Food Bank Association is proud to work with IHHS to provide the free Iowa SNAP Hotline and outreach to help increase Iowans’ access to SNAP. According to the 2022 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap study, 1 in 9 Iowans face hunger and 1 in 6 children go to bed hungry. Hunger is a complex issue and it takes a variety of programs to help those experiencing food insecurity. The food banks serving Iowa salute the impact of SNAP for families in Iowa as 40.7% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children.”
Iowans can apply for SNAP online, through a paper application, or over the phone by calling the Iowa SNAP Hotline at (855) 944-FOOD (3663). Calls are taken 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) to Iowans who are eligible for the SNAP program.
“SNAP-Ed helps people stretch their SNAP dollars. In Iowa, SNAP-Ed helps to make the healthy choice the easiest choice through nutrition education classes and community efforts like donation gardens and food pantry support,” said Katie Sorrell, program manager for SNAP-Ed with ISU Extension and Outreach.
“For 60 years, SNAP has proven to be the most effective way of getting food on the tables of the hungry. It has also been a highly effective form of economic stimulus with a multiplier effect of 1.54,” said Chris Schwartz, Executive Director of the Iowa Food System Coalition. “This is unmatched by all other forms of infrastructure investment, proving that when you invest in food you invest in our people and that’s good for our health and good for our economy.”
“SNAP continues to be the best tool we have to address hunger and food insecurity in Iowa,” said Luke Elzinga, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “Supporting the nutrition of our neighbors through SNAP is not only critical to their health and well-being, it is an investment in the future of our state.”