Waterloo Times

Buchanan County saw a 0.3 percent increase in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Buchanan Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 1,356 recipients (686 households) in Buchanan County participated in the Program compared to 1,352 recipients (692 households) in 2020.

Overall, $2,574,275 in food assistance payments were allocated to Buchanan County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,712,217 was allocated for Buchanan 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 Buchanan County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,983
2013	1,909
2014	1,884
2015	1,784
2016	1,707
2017	1,642
2018	1,502
2019	1,352
2020	1,356
2021	1,274