Southeast Iowa's food insecurity levels continue to reach historic highs.

The Food Bank of Iowa’s Ottumwa distribution center has been working to meet the rise in demand over the summer. The Ottumwa distribution center serves a total of 13 counties across Southeastern Iowa.

FBOI Vice President of Philanthropy, Bergetta Beardsley, told KTVO they saw a dramatic increase in the number of households facing food insecurity this summer.

In June, a total of 327,333 pounds of food were distributed to 9,543 households across the 13 counties. In Wapello County alone, a total of 50,657 pounds of food were distributed in June.

The Ottumwa distribution center saw an uptick of about 4,000 individuals in need of assistance in June compared to April.

In Iowa, nearly 300,000 people are facing food insecurity and one third of them are children," said Beardsley. "We have seen this number increase over the summer.”

They are now expecting the number of families in need of help to rise, as children return to school and COVID era free lunch programs come to an end.

Currently, the Food Bank of Iowa has two programs dedicated to combat childhood hunger.

Their School Pantry program works with 116 schools, including in Southeastern Iowa, to provide food in a location that’s comfortable and convenient for kids and their families.

Under their Backpack program elementary school students in need receive a sack of nutritious food each Friday during the school year.

Beardsley said in one week, they hand out around 4,100 sacks filled with food to children.

The Food Bank of Iowa say they expect to see the number of households in need to continue to rise into the holidays.

With the uncertainty of the future and the rising food costs, we see this need continue to grow through the fall," said Beardsley.