Central Iowa Times

Wright County saw an 8.6 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Wright Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 1,206 recipients (545 households) in Wright County participated in the Program compared to 1,320 recipients (588 households) in 2020.

Overall, $2,277,109 in food assistance payments were allocated to Wright County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,712,024 was allocated for Wright 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 Wright County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,750
2013	1,744
2014	1,679
2015	1,595
2016	1,580
2017	1,602
2018	1,523
2019	1,320
2020	1,206
2021	1,102