Summer hunger is no joke. A new pilot program is being launched by the Iowa Health and Human Services Department to help provide Iowa families with more food during the crucial summer months when school is out.
What is it?
Families who qualify for the Healthy Kids Iowa Pilot Program can get expanded access to additional food at the following food pantry locations throughout June, July, and August. Available food will include items like fruits, vegetables, dairy items, grains, and proteins.
DMARC will be doing Healthy Kids Iowa food distributions on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month (June through August) at the DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry Location. Food will be distributed from 9 am to Noon on those dates starting Saturday, June 14.
You can also visit any of the locations below to receive Healthy Kids Iowa food.
Can I Take the Food Home With Me?
Healthy Kids Iowa food is meant to help you fill your pantry at home. These are typical grocery items meant to be There are other programs that offer prepared meals for kids during the summer months.
Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals can also get the nutrition they need during summer break through the USDA summer meal programs. Approved sites (oftentimes a local school or community center) serve meals and snacks to kids 18 and younger at no cost at that location.
Can Our Household Participate?
- Households at 185% or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Households with children aged 4-18.
- Households that have already self-attested to eligibility for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) with children aged 4 to 18 are eligible to participate in this program.
Household size income guidelines
| Household Size | 1 | each additional Person, add: |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly Income | $27,861 | $9,953 |
| Monthly Income | $2,322 | $830 |
| Weekly Income | $536 | $192 |
| Household Size | 2 | 3 | 4 | each additional Person, add: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly Income | $37,814 | $47,767 | $57,720 | $9,953 |
| Monthly Income | $3,152 | $3,981 | $4,810 | $830 |
| Weekly Income | $728 | $919 | $1,110 | $192 |
Healthy Kids Iowa Locations
Healthy Kids Iowa food packages can only be received at one site per month (One box per eligible child per month).
| DMARC locations |
|---|
| DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry 100 Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month: 9:00am-12:00pm |
| Urbandale Food Pantry 7901 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322 Mondays – Thursdays: 9:30am-6:30pm; Saturdays: 8:00am-12:00pm |
| Johnston Partnership 5870 Merle Hay Rd, Suite C, Johnston, IA 50131 Tuesdays: 9:00am-1:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm; Thursdays & Saturdays: 9:00am-1:00pm Regular operating Hours |
| West Des Moines Human Services 139 6th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265 Mondays & Thursdays: 8:30am- 3:00pm; Tuesdays: 8:30am- 3:00pm & 4:30-6:30pm; Wednesdays & Fridays: 8:30am-12:00pm Regular operating Hours |
Other Polk County Pantry Locations
| pantry location |
|---|
| Knock and Drop 4801 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 June 11, July 9, & August 6: 3:30-6:00pm |
| Capital View Elementary 320 E 16th St, Des Moines, IA 50316 June 17, July 3 & 17, & August 14: 3:00-4:00pm |
| Weeks Middle School 901 E Park Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315 June 10 & 24, July 8 & 22, & August 12 & 26: 3:00-4:30pm |
| Morris Elementary 1401 Geil Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315 June 12 & 26, July 10 & 24, & August 14 & 28: 1:00-2:30pm |
| DMPS Roosevelt High School 4419 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50312 Tuesdays: 2:00-3:00pm |
| Garton Elementary 2820 E. 24th Street, Des Moines, IA 50317 June 17, July 1 & 15, & August 5 & 19: 2:45-3:45pm |
| DMPS Monroe Elementary 3015 Francis Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 June 19, July 3 & 17, & August 7 & 21: 12:30-2:00pm |
| Ankeny Northview Middle School 1302 N. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023 June 17, July 1, July 15, August 5, August 19: 9:30am-12:00pm |
| Prairie Crossing Church 102 2nd Street NW, Mitchellville, IA 50169 June 10: 3:00-7:00pm; June 21: 10:00am- 3:00pm; July 8: 3:00-7:00pm; July 19: 10:00am- 3:00pm; August 5: 3:00-7:00pm; August 16: 10:00am-3:00pm |
| Grimes Storehouse 112 NE Ewing St, Suite B, Grimes, IA 5011 Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:30-11:30am 1st and 2nd Tuesdays of each month: 5:30-7:00pm |
For more information about Healthy Kids Iowa, please visit the Iowa HHS site to sign up for more updates.