DAVENPORT, Iowa — River Bend Food Bank is one of six across Iowa selected for a pilot program. It gives those food banks money to buy meat, dairy and produce from Iowa farmers.
A total of $225,000 will be distributed across the state through "Choose Iowa." River Bend will receive $38,000, which they have to match.
Food Sourcing Manager Gretchen Nollman said the food bank can make five meals for a dollar. With the match, she expects the funding to make 380,000 meals.
As long as it's made in Iowa, River Bend can buy animal products, produce, even honey. That will put more money in the pockets of local farmers.
"It’s great for them because that gives them more of a source than just the grocery store," Nollman said. "Just that small amount that they’ve been able to do with us, they can also increase that capacity with us."
Nollman said the rising cost of food has been a big challenge for the food bank. It's spending 25-30% more than last year.
"We do get some protein and some produce, but because of the cost of everything right now, it's very hard to spend the money on it," Nollman said.
She said that's why the pilot program is so exciting.
"We want to be able to offer the green food — as we say, that very nutritious food — and it's very expensive," Nollman said. "So being able to have extra funding for that is super important for us, so that we're getting it out to the people that are in need of it."
River Bend also held a ribbon cutting for its 10,000 square-foot addition Thursday. The group demolished its previous office space, giving its warehouse more room for food storage and sorting. There's also a new ramp to the receiving doors to make pickup safer.
Nollman said the expansion will help with the increased volume from the program.
"We’ll be able to have more volunteers come in and be able to help us sort our produce correctly that we do purchase," Nollman said.
Nollman said she's already reached out to nearby Iowa farmers to get them into the program. She also said the food bank is seeing a 25-30% rise in need in the area it serves.