East Central Iowa News

Keokuk County saw a 0.5 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Keokuk Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 1,090 recipients (496 households) in Keokuk County participated in the Program compared to 1,095 recipients (493 households) in 2020.

Overall, $2,040,046 in food assistance payments were allocated to Keokuk County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,416,337 was allocated for Keokuk 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 Keokuk County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,495
2013	1,420
2014	1,276
2015	1,185
2016	1,191
2017	1,130
2018	1,125
2019	1,095
2020	1,090
2021	1,046