More than 50,000 families and residents in Des Moines received free meals this summer. | stock photo
More than 50,000 families and residents in Des Moines received free meals this summer. | stock photo
Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) and the City of Des Moines, along with local restaurants and caterers, gave away more than 50,000 meals to families and residents in need, according to a city-issued news release.
From May through mid-September, the organizations provided 53,102 free meals to those needing food, the news release stated.
“This program helped Des Moines in two ways – we got meals to those who needed them while providing some vital business to those restaurants and food vendors significantly hit financially this summer by the pandemic,” Mayor Frank Cownie said in the news release. “That’s what we do in our community during tough times, we help each other.”
The restaurants were paid for the meals with COVID-19 relief funds that the city provided, the news release stated.
“Unfortunately, we have too many people who must pick between putting food on the table and paying rent, but working with the city and local restaurant owners, we were able to expand our services and provide this much-needed assistance during a most difficult time,” CISS CEO Melissa O’Neil said in the news release.
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