After a nearly six-month national search, the Food Bank of Iowa has appointed a familiar face to be its next president and CEO. Since joining the Food Bank of Iowa in 2016, Tami Nielsen has held several important roles and helped to build many valuable relationships among the food bank’s 700 partners in 55 counties. Nielsen, who has led the Food Bank of Iowa as interim CEO since the beginning of the year and will assume her official position on June 1, said she is ready to lead the team as they navigate a challenging time of heightened food insecurity.
Nielsen said she is honored to follow in the footsteps of the Food Bank of Iowa’s previous CEO, Michelle Book.
According to a recent Feeding America study on food insecurity, each county has a significant number of people who aren’t getting enough food to eat on a daily basis. This is a challenge that will only continue to grow, but Nielsen said the Food Bank of Iowa has a strong team and a supportive network of partners who are fully prepared to battle food insecurity across the state.
Children in particular are impacted heavily by food insecurity. Without enough food to fuel their bodies, it’s an uphill climb for them to be able to become their best selves. Fortunately, Nielsen said they are working with the Healthy Kids Iowa program, which expands access to food during the summer months when kids are not able to get meals from school.
To volunteer your time and donate or receive food, visit foodbankiowa.org.
