Iowa is one of only 12 states without an emergency food system in place. Several groups, including the Food Bank of Iowa have been pushing lawmakers to draft a bill to start a $2 million dollar program that would be incorporated into Iowa’s existing network of emergency food providers. Currently, Iowa’s food banks receive funds from the federal government, which they use to buy food and distribute that food to local food pantries says Sarah Benson Wittree, the Director of the food bank at the Johnson County Crisis Center. This proposed bill would incorporate funding from the state which could be used to purchase food from retailers at lowered prices. For more information on how food banks and pantries operate in Iowa, listen to our In Touch program online at kciiradio.com.