Exira, Iowa —

When a food pantry opened at Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Elementary in Exira this school year, no one expected SNAP funds would soon come to a complete stop.

Special Education Teacher Riley Simpson started it when she learned of multiple students at the school who staff believe weren't getting enough food at home. She said teachers may give students a snack, but there was no official program.

Simpson got in touch with the Food Bank of Iowa, which now has 168 schools participating in its school food pantry program in its region. The food bank provides the food for free, but it takes volunteers to step up.

Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland has a mobile school food pantry program, which serves Nebraska and parts of Southwest Iowa, not including Exira.

Simpson, staff who

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