Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced a new plan Wednesday to help school districts and community organizations feed youth in need during the summer. Through the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant, $900,000 in competitive grants are now up for grabs for local groups seeking to offer healthy meals and snacks to children and teens over summer break, according to a news release. The latest initiative comes nearly three months after KimReynoldsIA drew criticism from anti-hunger leaders on her decision to opt out of the federal government-run Summer EBT program for low-income families. Iowa is one of 17 states that declined to participate in the Summer EBT program this year, effectively turning down around $29 million in federal food aid for low-income families in the form of grocery debit cards. Reynolds, a Republican, pointed to the state being in the top 10 in the nation for high school age obesity and said EBT programs don't have a strong enough focus on ...