A food program expansion is approved for the Cedar Rapids school district following the collapse of Hy-Vee

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – On Monday, the Linn County Supervisors granted $10,000 in funds to support the Johnson STEAM Academy, a new lunch site being opened by the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

It is a reaction to the Hy-Vee on 1st Avenue closing, which has left a “food desert” in a Cedar Rapids neighborhood with significant needs.

The Johnson STEAM Academy’s new location will welcome visitors of all ages, including adults. Unlike other district meal locations, which are exclusively for children, this one is available to everybody.

Rep. Sami Scheetz, the City of Cedar Rapids, and the school district collaborated on the program.

Superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District Dr. Tawana Grover wrote to the Linn County Board of Supervisors stating that families in the Mount View and Wellington Heights communities are finding it more difficult to obtain food as a result of the closure of the Hy-Vee on First Avenue.

“By expanding the food program, Representative Scheetz, CRCSD, and the City of Cedar Rapids can help combat food insecurity by ensuring families in the area have access to nutritious meals, which is essential for their overall well-being,” Dr. Grover said in the letter.

The American Rescue Plan Act provides the funding.

Additionally, the school district is requesting an additional $10,000 from the city of Cedar Rapids.