DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Health and Human Services Healthy Kids Iowa program has begun to distribute food to families in need.

The program is Governor Reynolds alternative to the Federal Summer EBT program.

Iowa HHS has contracted with six food banks to distribute food to 258 sites across Iowa. The program allows eligible families to pick up $40 of food per child per month.

Blake Willadsen, the Marketing and Communications Manager at Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network, said that the Healthy Kids Iowa program will make a big difference.

“It’s going to make a huge difference for those families at a time when it’s definitely needed,” Willadsen said.

Willadsen said that DMARC will need additional volunteers for the Healthy Kids Iowa Program.

“Right now, the biggest challenge is just, you know, the logistics of operating another food pantry distribution, getting those materials that are needed, and just figuring out the little things like having an additional ten volunteers here for a Saturday afternoon, figuring out know how to staff that, how to store that food separately,” Willadsen said.

To sign up to volunteer at DMARC, visit DMARC’s website.

Here are the locations of the 14 distribution sites in Polk County.