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Last year, in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were . That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an .

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Iowa City using data from . Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Holiday Bell Ringers Wanted
- Organization: The Salvation Army of Iowa City
- Dates: Nov 10 to Dec 22
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Meal Prep, Serving, and Clean-up
- Organization: FREE LUNCH PROGRAM
- Dates: Nov 25 to Jan 31
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Mobile Pantry-Iowa City locations
- Organization: CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank
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Volunteers Needed to Address Food Insecurity
- Organization: Table to Table
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Help us feed your Neighbors in the Iowa City, IA area
- Organization: Lasagna Love
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Local Food System Education and Outreach VISTA
- Organization: Idealist.org
- Date: Jan 16
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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.