Citizen Advocate - Rosanne Plante

10/31/2025

Dropped off pumpkins from our patch to be made into soup, and be given to children this evening at the Siouxland Soup Kitchen and The Gospel Mission of Sioux City.

Met another gardener from Bronson, Iowa who was donating beautiful squash to the Gospel Mission. They were also donating to other pantries and their own church that had run out of food. We discussed the impending crisis of food insecurity in the area.

I asked her what the local elected officials were doing to help her church pantry. She said nothing and they haven't heard from them.

Very disappointing to hear!!!

We all need to pitch in and help, especially those who were elected last November.

It is a privilege to represent the district, it involves responsibility and duty.

Be bold enough to ask what your Representatives are doing for the community!

I am and have been feeding hungry people for nearly 10 years with food grown on my acreage.

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10/29/2025

When SNAP Stops: The Ripple Effect of a Government Shutdown on Hungry Families

As a government shutdown drags on and SNAP benefits hang in the balance, millions of families face an alarming reality: the kitchen table goes empty. At the same time, gardeners are still harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables across America. In this post I explore how homegrown abundance can fill unexpected gaps in our food system. Let’s turn surplus into nourishment and buy time for vulnerable households when safety nets falter.

For millions of families, the dinner table is suddenly empty again. With the pending suspension of SNAP benefits compounded by a government shutdown now in its fourth week, America’s most vulnerable households are once more caught in the crossfire of politics. For most low-income families, SNAP is the primary safety net. When those benefits are interrupted, even briefly, the impact is immediate and severe – and it ripples across the entire food system. Add to that the impact on more than 2.6 military families plus 3 million civilian employees of the Federal government and you can quickly see the staggering increased need for food at food pantries nationwide.

It happened in 2019, and sadly history is repeating itself.

A Perfect Storm for Hunger
The pending SNAP suspension is hitting at a time when food insecurity is already rising due to inflation, high housing costs, and economic uncertainty. Food pantries, which rely on donations from grocery stores and community drives, are seeing heavier demand and thinner supplies. And these food sources generally don’t provide fresh food, further impacting the health of the community.

When government systems stall, local communities step up. Food pantries become the first line of defense – and that’s where home and community gardeners can play a powerful role.

Gardeners Can Make a Difference – Right Now
If you live in a part of the country where the growing season hasn’t ended, you can help today. Gardeners in warmer regions – from California to the Carolinas, from Texas to Florida – can donate their surplus harvests to nearby AmpleHarvest.org member food pantries. Your surplus harvest donation could be the difference between a family eating processed foods or enjoying a fresh, healthy meal tonight. Every tomato, pepper, and squash matters. Freshly harvested food from your garden doesn’t just fill a stomach – it restores dignity, nutrition, and hope.

Planting for a Stronger Tomorrow
If this moment reminds us of anything, it’s how fragile America’s food system really is. A single government disruption can push millions into hunger. The best way to prevent that next year is to plan ahead – by growing a little extra food specifically for donation. Bonnie Plants’ Grow More. Feed More program makes it easy to dedicate part of your garden to helping neighbors in need. Even one or two extra plants can yield dozens of servings of fresh produce over a season. Imagine the collective impact if millions more gardeners across the country did the same.

Expand the Green Ambassadors Reach
The Green Ambassadors were created in 2016 by my husband and I to teach and encourage others to grow produce to feed the hungry. As food insecurity grows, we must reach even more pantries and gardeners – especially in rural and underserved areas like District 13 in Iowa.

I invite individuals, companies, and philanthropic organizations to join me. Your support enables us to expand our food pantry network, strengthen our technology, and bring more communities online.

You can help by:

Reaching out to me for gardening help and lessons.

Asking me for the network of organizations in need accepting donations.

Sharing this message with your local gardening community.

With Your Help, We Can Weather the Storm
When government programs pause and systems falter, communities hold together through generosity and local action. Gardeners have always been at the heart of that resilience.

If you can harvest today – share it.
If you can plant tomorrow – plan to grow more.
And if you can give – help the Green Ambassadors continue connecting donations for pantries across Iowa.

TOGETHER we can feed Iowa "One Garden at a Time."

10/29/2025

In 2016, my husband and I founded the Green Ambassadors (an organization that teaches and encourages others to grow produce and donate to food pantries and soup kitchens). We grow produce each year on our acreage to feed the hungry and nourish the spirits of others. I partnered with Ample Harvest as a national ambassador in 2016, and still share in their work of feeding America "One Garden at a Time."

I encourage you to donate your garden's surplus, whether it's apples for pies or pumpkins for soups, to local food pantries.

Your contributions can make a big difference for families facing food insecurity. By coming together, we can enjoy the season's produce and make a positive impact in our communities. My Green Ambassadors have donated nearly 1,000 pounds this season along, and close to 10,000 pounds since 2016. The need is the HIGHEST I have ever seen. Please considering donating to your local pantry especially after Nov. 1, as SNAP benefits are cut for millions across Iowa and the U.S.

Thank you for your support and for helping us nourish and uplift others. 🍎🎃

09/27/2025

Be careful citizens of District 13. Your representative supports and is encouraging the use of ICE.

As an attorney with critical thinking skills and knowledge of civics, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

In addition, let us all remember that the Republican controlled Iowa Department of Education issued the license Mr. Roberts practices under.

09/26/2025

More abuse of the legal system by ICE.

09/26/2025

President announces new tariffs, including for certain pharmaceuticals, set to begin Oct. 1

President Trump late yesterday announced that starting Oct. 1, the U.S. will impose a 100% tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless a company is building its pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in America. The president’s post on Truth Social said “is building” will be defined as “breaking ground” or “under construction” and that there would be no tariff on “these Pharmaceutical Products if construction has started.”

As of 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 26, the administration has not released any official documents related to the tariff announcement.

The AHA in May submitted comments to the Department of Commerce on its Section 232 national security investigation of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients imports. The AHA urged the administration to maintain tariff exceptions, particularly for products already experiencing shortages and for countries that produce a significant portion of the U.S. pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients market supply.

“The lives of patients often depend on the ready availability of drugs to respond to emergent conditions like heart attacks and infections, and other critical illnesses like cancer and organ failure,” the letter said. “The supply chain for pharmaceutical products is highly complex and requires hospitals to draw on both domestic and international sources. For many patients, even a temporary disruption in their access to these needed medications could put them at significant risk.”

09/06/2025

🌟 National Food Bank Day 🌟

Today, we celebrate National Food Bank Day, a day dedicated to honoring the incredible work of food banks and their volunteers who tirelessly fight hunger in our communities. 🍽️❤️

With more children and adults going hungry in Iowa, food banks are more important than ever. I've been dedicated to feeding hungry Iowans for the past 9 years through my Green Ambassadors program. I match home gardeners with extra produce to food pantries and kitchens that feed the hungry.

Why It Matters:

Hunger is a pressing issue: Millions of people, including children and seniors, face food insecurity every day.

Food banks are essential: They provide vital resources to those in need, ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Consider donating non-perishable food items or funds to your local food bank. My Green Ambassador organization donates regularly to the Siouxland Soup Kitchen and The Gospel Mission.

Volunteer: Your time is invaluable. Join the dedicated volunteers who help sort, pack, and distribute food.

Raise Awareness: Share this post and spread the word about the importance of food banks. Together, we can make a difference!

Let’s come together to support our food banks and ensure that everyone has access to the food they need. Happy National Food Bank Day! 🌍💚

09/06/2025

Surprise! Iowa’s budget is in chaos, thanks to reckless Republican tax cuts. Kim Reynolds and the GOP cut taxes for the wealthy, sat on a surplus, and now the state is scrambling while essential public services are left underfunded. For years, Republican lawmakers hoarded extra revenue instead of investing in schools, healthcare, and public safety, leaving Iowans to shoulder the consequences.

GOP TAX CUTS ARE BLOWING A HOLE IN IOWA’S BUDGET: State revenue dropped 18.6% from income taxes in July and August, leaving a massive shortfall. GOP lawmakers pushed through a $9.4 billion budget despite only $8.5 billion in projected revenue, and now they’re raiding Iowa’s surplus and relief funds to paper over the gap. Iowans deserve better than reckless tax giveaways to the wealthy that drain public services and gamble with our future.

08/15/2025

As the harvest begins, please remember to share your bounty with others. I delivered 100 pounds of fresh produce to The Gospel Mission for use at the kitchen that feeds people every day, and the food pantry that distributes food to those in need.

I also welcome friends to contact me and come out to the acreage to pick apples from our trees. We have a huge crop this year we want to share with others!!

07/17/2025

I ran on nursing home reform in the last election. Since then, more cases of neglect and abuse have been discovered. Don't worry though, the representative for District 13 has said publicly that there are no issues and staffing just needs to be better.

Remember that if your loved one has to be admitted to a care center. I know about care centers because I cared for 3 elderly relatives for 9 years and removed two of them to my home because of poor care. My complaints to the Department of Inspections and Appeals also caused thousands of dollars in fines against Floyd House in Sgt. Bluff and led to their decertification as a care center.

A Cedar Rapids nursing home has been fined $13,000 after a series of alleged medication errors that resulted in the hospitalization of several residents. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/tu89jpam

05/06/2025

GOP Budget Stalemate Sends Legislative Session into Overtime

Despite holding complete control of Iowa’s state government, Republican lawmakers have failed to reach a budget agreement, pushing the legislative session into overtime and leaving Iowans with more questions than answers.

The stalemate stems from deep divisions between House and Senate Republicans over how to finalize the state budget. But there’s one thing they do seem to agree on: spending more than Iowa can afford.

The Iowa House GOP’s latest proposal would spend over $900 million more than the state’s projected revenue, creating a deficit budget. Part of the state’s budget problem is driven by the rising costs of private school vouchers, which will cost over $1 billion in just the first five years.

Instead of working together to craft a balanced, sustainable budget that meets the needs of everyday Iowans, Republican infighting and misplaced priorities have stalled adjournment this year.

With no budget deal in place, vital decisions about public education, health care, roads, public safety, and workforce support remain in limbo.