Portraits of Hunger in Iowa--Deb's Story
A Series
This column was written by
and me. Robert and I conducted the interviews, and all photographs were taken by me with the permission of the people being photographed. We conducted several interviews, and may do more as part of our series. This column is also posted at Robert’s Substack, . Please consider subscribing to , or even better, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Robert is an Anthropologist and as such has a way of listening to people in a way that makes them want to tell their story.This work was facilitated by Luke Elzinga with DMARC. Our thanks to Luke and other members of the DMARC staff for their help and guidance. Thanks also to those we spoke with who were visitors. We are honored that you allowed us to help tell your stories, and we hope sharing them will make a difference in public perception and policies related to hunger in America.
On Friday, October 31, Robert and I went to the Des Moines Area Religious Council’s (DMARC) food pantry on Army Post Road. We wanted to learn how our fellow Iowans were doing during the government shutdown, and on the eve of SNAP payments due to be issued in November being stopped.
We conducted several interviews, are writing them up, and will include them as part of this series. Check out our previous three stories here at Deep Midwest or at The Racontourist.
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Photographers note: Initially Deb asked to not be photographed. She was the 2nd person that Bob and I interviewed. I worked around the room to try and capture b-roll type of shots and ambient scenes. I kept looking for a moment to ask for permission to shoot some images but keep her identity anonymous. Eventually I asked if I could follow her out and photograph the cart without showing her face.
Below is the audio of our interview, followed by a lightly edited transcript. Please listen to the audio to be there with us, and to hear the emotions in Deb’s voice.
Bob: So, Deb, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Deb: Um, I live in Indianola and, um I moved here in 2013. I recently had an injury on my um knee and so I haven’t been able to work. Um, but I’m waiting for surgery on it. And um, so, I get money every three months, um just from my financial, I guess responsibility whenever I was able to work. And I come about every three months for supplementation because by the third month I’m running out of money. So So um so that’s why I’m here.
Bob: And so, is it, so you’re not on SNAP it sounds like?
Deb: I’m not. No. Um I’m not on SNAP. I didn’t qualify cuz I had made too much money in the past. If I applied now, I probably would qualify, but it’s I don’t know if it’s even going to be a thing anymore. So um so yeah, I just really haven’t. Um I’m hoping that once I get my knee fixed, I will just be able to support myself again, but you know, it’s just kind a of life happens and you have to go with the flow.
Bob: And and, so is uh health insurance a problem. I know it is for a lot of people. It’s been for me in the past.
Deb: Um, yeah. I I’m on state assistance for insurance, but I didn’t qualify for the SNAP program at the time because the past three months I had made too much. So, um so yeah, I haven’t tried to requalify or anything.
Bob: And so, what do you think of the sort of, the general, I don’t know, income inequality has increased so much over the years, and it’s so hard for people to make it. Do you have any thoughts on how we can fix things?
Deb: Um, I don’t know really. It’s such a big problem. Um, yeah, it’s it’s hard to… I feel like the cost of living goes up and our income stays the same and um and it’s kind of the same with our insurance benefits.
Um, Like I whenever I had dental insurance, like my premiums would go up and um, But my benefits didn’t go up with my insurance, you know? And so you’re you’re paying more, you’re making the same amount, and you’re not getting anything extra, you know, for paying more. Um, you know, your deductible’s still the same, and it’s just I don’t know what the the fix for the problem is, but I know it’s the problem.
Like, I see it, that it’s a issue and um I just don’t know how we fix it all.
Bob: What gives you hope today? Does anything give you hope?
Deb: Well, you caught me on a good day, so yes, I’m hopeful. Just I I know like there’s a lot of programs in the community, like churches and stuff like that, that, you know, are really stepping forward and doing a lot to help.
tears…
Deb: Sorry, so, I just have hope in us all pulling together, as a community, yes.
Bob: Thank you.
Deb: Why’d you have to make me cry?
Look for more in this series from us—we very much appreciate each and every one of you for reading and supporting our work. Our holiday party for paid subscribers to any column written by a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative will be on December 17 at the Harkin Institute at Drake in Des Moines. The program begins at 7:00 p.m., and our friends The Weary Ramblers will perform.
We are both proud members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please check out our work here. Subscribe! Become a paid subscriber if you can afford it. Please and thank you. We need you. Thanks for being part of the team! Want to buy me lunch or a cup of coffee? Venmo @Robert-Leonard-238, and the last four numbers of my phone number are 3304 if you need it. I also publish Cedar Creek Nature Notes, about Violet the Dog and my adventures on our morning walks at Cedar Bluffs Natural Area in Mahaska County, Iowa.
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Another outstanding post & thx to Deb for sharing. Wishing her & everyone else in her situation the best, esp with winter approaching. This is tragic capitalism at its worse.
So you asked us to become a paid subscriber. Also Bob asked us to venmo him for a meal or a cup of coffee. With all the income inequality you talked about in America, i would have thought for this article it would have been more wise for you to ask to consider donating to DMSRC foood pantry or one like it near us. 🤦♂️🤷♂️