In Kossuth County alone 1,260 individuals experience food insecurity according to the Iowa Health and Human Services report. In the last Community Health Needs Assessment for the county, food access and food insecurity were also mentioned as concern by community members. As a way to help increase food access to Kossuth County and area residents, Community Health has been working on a Food Lending Project.
We are excited to share that Food Lending Boxes have been installed around town at local businesses and churches, and the items and supplies inside the boxes are available for families in need to take at their convenience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hospital’s box has been installed on the south side of the clinic.
Other locations of Food Lending Boxes in the community include:
— Bishop Garrigan School on the west side of the building (sidewalk by main entrance)
–Divine Mercy Parish on the north side of the building (by sidewalk)
–First Lutheran Church to the south of the main entrance (by sidewalk)
–Trinity Lutheran Church (north side)
These boxes are for ANYONE who needs additional food resources. The boxes are open for those in need year-round and also open for donations year-round! Here is a list of suggested donations for the winter months.
The Community Health team is hoping that keeping the boxes filled will be a community effort. Even if that just means buying an extra box at the grocery store each week to help stock one of these boxes, you are helping a family in need.
Food insecurity continues to be prevalent in the community and these boxes are just another way Community Health is trying to improve access to food for county residents. As the winter months approach, we are asking individuals to be mindful of the items placed in the boxes, so they do not freeze/break/rot. It is best for shelf stable food to be placed in the boxes. If you would like to donate you can take it the items directly to one of the lending boxes or you can always drop off food to Community Health at Kossuth Regional Health Center.
The implementation of the Food Lending Boxes has been a community effort. The initial idea came from the KRHC Public Health Department with much support and assistance to get the boxes built and installed. The team at Community Health would like to thank:
- Chips Off the Old Block for the blueprint
- Mr. Kuecker’s Woods1 Class at Algona High School for the construction of the boxes
- Forge and Build and Wesley Lumber for the donation of materials
- Signworks for the decals placed in the windows
- Mr. Birkey’s Construction class at Algona High School for installation of the boxes
- Brandon Becker for digging all of the holes and placing the posts for the boxes
We are so lucky to live in a community where everyone is so willing to donate materials/time/skills to help our fellow community members!
Food insecurity critically impacts public health economic stability and social equity, demanding urgent action. Lack of access to food leads to health issues like malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease increasing health costs and straining public systems. For children, it causes developmental delays and poor academic performance, undermining future workforce potential. Hunger reduces productivity and perpetuates poverty, burdening social services and government programs. Thank you for your continued support to keep food in the homes of Kossuth County residents!
