Muscatine woman raises $4K with community food drive amid SNAP benefit uncertainty

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - With federal SNAP benefits facing an uncertain future, a Muscatine woman turned her concern into community action, organizing a food drive that raised $4,000 and packed 800 meals for families in need.

Chelsea Harms, who volunteers at Jefferson Elementary School, organized the meal-packing event at Zion Lutheran Church after realizing how children would be affected by recent SNAP program changes.

“I currently volunteer at Jefferson Elementary School and just realizing that children are going to be affected really crushed me,” Harms said. “No children should be hungry at the end of the day.”

Community response exceeds expectations

The response from the Muscatine community surprised Harms, who received the cash donations for the effort. Members Community Credit Union alone contributed $1,500 to the cause.

“I have volunteers from all walks of life,” Harms said. “People that aren’t even a part of this Zion Lutheran Church are here to help to make sure no children is hungry at the end of the day.”

Volunteers packed sack lunches containing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit and snacks. The meals are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of background.

“Don’t matter where you come from, if you need a meal we’re happy to deliver a meal,” Harms said.

Addressing food insecurity in Muscatine County

According to Feeding Muscatine, about 5,300 people in the county are food insecure, with one in eight being children.

Harms said the community effort won’t end when SNAP funding returns to normal levels.

“If we can do this during SNAP [freeze], there’s nothing we can’t do,” she said.

The initiative aims to provide relief for families struggling with food costs while federal assistance programs face potential changes.

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