NW Iowa News

Palo Alto County saw a 10.7 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2019 to 2020, according to a Palo Alto Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2020, 625 recipients (301 households) in Palo Alto County participated in the Program compared to 700 recipients (331 households) in 2019.

Overall, $1,177,551 in food assistance payments were allocated to Palo Alto County recipients in 2020.

In 2019, $861,174 was allocated for Palo Alto County program participants.

Qualified recipients in the Program are eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which then can be used to buy groceries. The Program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's larger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Number of Food Assistance Program Participants in Palo Alto County 2011-2020

Year	Number of recipients
2011	869
2012	903
2013	971
2014	862
2015	871
2016	833
2017	793
2018	786
2019	700
2020	625