MASON CITY, I.A., March 7, 2012 – United Way of North Central Iowa in partnership with Senator Amanda Ragan will host HUNGER FORUM 2012 to shed light on the food needs of north central Iowans. Hunger is a pressing issue in Iowa and across the nation.
“Nearly 13%, or over 382,000, Iowans are food insecure, or struggle against hunger,” said Jennifer Kammeyer, Chief Professional Officer at United Way of North Central Iowa (UWNCI). “Here in north central Iowa, we’re seeing food insecurity rates hovering around 11.2% to 15.4%.”
HUNGER FORUM 2012 will bring together local experts, including legislators, food bank administrators and volunteers, and educators to discuss current trends as UWNCI prepares to once again join the National Association of Letter Carriers for Stamp Out Hunger in north Iowa. This event is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, having collected more than one billion pounds since its inception in 1993. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 12.
The forum will also give the community an opportunity to discuss the need and potential for a Backpack Program for food insecure students in north central Iowa.
“Research indicates that nearly 22- percent of those labeled as food insecure in our region are under the age of 18,” added Kammeyer. “These children have a hard time fending for themselves on the weekends, and we must address this need.”
HUNGER FORUM 2012 will be held Saturday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community Kitchen of North Iowa, 606 N. Monroe Ave., Mason City, IA. To learn more about the HUNGER FORUM or to RSVP please email hunger@unitedwaynci.org or call 641-423-1774.
