WC Iowa News

Calhoun County saw a 4.2 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Calhoun Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 732 recipients (355 households) in Calhoun County participated in the Program compared to 764 recipients (349 households) in 2020.

Overall, $1,348,914 in food assistance payments were allocated to Calhoun County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $855,389 was allocated for Calhoun 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 Calhoun County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,021
2013	1,010
2014	955
2015	894
2016	945
2017	873
2018	844
2019	764
2020	732
2021	672