This week, we kick off the holiday season with Thanksgiving. As Iowans, we have a lot to be thankful for, including working together to achieve great things for our state.
During the holidays, here are a couple ways we can continue building a state that is widely admired for its great quality of life:
- Feed the hungry. Despite Iowa’s role in feeding the world, thousands of Iowans—including more than one in five Iowa kids—face hunger on a daily basis.
More than two-thirds of our neighbors who are 65 or older and eligible for food assistance haven’t signed up to receive it. Many don’t realize assistance is available. Others don’t want to ask for help, even though their taxes support it.
Iowans are known for their willingness to give back. We harvest fruits and vegetables from community gardens, donate to local food banks and give of our time to make sure that every Iowan has enough to eat.
If you’d like to help, contact the Iowa Food Bank Association at 515-288-3234. The organization is made up of eight Feeding America food banks that serve all 99 Iowa counties. Together, they help more than 1,000 nonprofits serving those in need. To learn more, visit the Iowa Food Bank Association site at www.iowafba.org.
- Shop locally. This holiday season, when looking for gifts for family and friends, give our local economy a boost by shopping close to home. Our small businesses are owned by local people, and employ our friends and neighbors.
These businesses contribute generously to our schools, churches and community organizations. Moreover, every $1 spent at a local business generates $5 to $7 in local economic activity, which helps create jobs and income.
At the Iowa Statehouse, we support legislation to require state government to “shop Iowa first” when it comes to government contracts. We hope you’ll join me in doing the same when it comes to our holiday purchases.