Council approves $10,000 one‑time gaming‑fund donation to four local food pantries; council member abstains

The Waterloo City Council approved a one‑time donation of $10,000 from gaming funds to four local food pantries as a holiday support measure.

Council members said the gaming‑fund ordinance permits contributions for community beautification and community relations, and staff described the council’s nonprofit grant program and available balance in the gaming account this year. The donation was framed as a direct contribution rather than a grant requiring receipts; council members said the award letter would explain the purpose and that the city would not require the same reporting as the nonprofit grant program.

Courtney Hunter, identified in the meeting as development director for House of Neighborly Service, told the council the pantry is seeing an increase in need and thanked the council for its support. Hunter said staff from the agency were present to answer questions. One council member, Hopkins, said she volunteers at Hope Church’s food pantry and abstained from the vote; the motion otherwise passed by roll call.

Transcript wording about the exact distribution lists amounts as "3,500, 3,500, 1,500, 1,500" totaling $10,000; the phrasing in the record is uneven. The council member who presented the item said larger portions would go to two agencies (named in the meeting) and smaller portions to two others.