East Central Iowa News

Poweshiek County saw a 2.4 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2019 to 2020, according to a Poweshiek Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2020, 1,194 recipients (602 households) in Poweshiek County participated in the Program compared to 1,223 recipients (599 households) in 2019.

Overall, $2,301,302 in food assistance payments were allocated to Poweshiek County recipients in 2020.

In 2019, $1,545,421 was allocated for Poweshiek County program participants.

Qualified recipients in the Program are eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which then can be used to buy groceries. The Program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's larger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Number of Food Assistance Program Participants in Poweshiek County 2011-2020

Year	Number of recipients
2011	1,804
2012	1,848
2013	1,749
2014	1,553
2015	1,440
2016	1,427
2017	1,386
2018	1,291
2019	1,223
2020	1,194