This year, Iowa will not be participating in the Summer EBT program and instead Gov. Reynolds has had a waiver approved to try another option, “Healthy Kids Iowa.”  Instead of low-income families getting $40 on an EBT credit card, they will now pick up $40 worth of food at local food boxes.

That is Cindy Staron, a volunteer with the Marshalltown Emergency Food Box.  She said the food for this program is coming every other week on Tuesday, and they will distribute it on Wednesday and Thursday.

Staron stresses that this program is different than their normal monthly pick up for families.  Normal monthly food pick up will take place in the front of the Emergency Food Box, per usual.  Pick up for Healthy Kids Iowa will happen out of the back door and they will be open longer for this program.

Staron says they are not in need of food as much as they need volunteers to make this all happen.  She says they need volunteers for the Tuesday when food trucks come and Wednesday and Thursdays to help distribute the food.  If you or a group you are a part of wants to help volunteer you can reach out to Staron and her team

You can also send an email to EFBMtown@gmail.com to sign up to volunteer.  The full conversation with Staron will be on Central Iowa Today at 12:45 then posted at 1230kfjb.com at 1pm.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB