The Iowa Department of Agriculture is offering grants to help food pantries expand their refrigeration capacity, which officials say will help pantries provide more fresh food to Iowans in need. The Pack the Pantry grant program, announced late last week by state Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, is designed to help food pantries meet the increasing demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s funded by the CARES Act and is an initiative of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Feeding Iowans Task Force. The Iowa Egg Council is also contributing resources to the program. According to a news release announcing the program, food pantries can apply for grants of up to $10,000 to install refrigeration and cooler units. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on July 17. “Food pantries are the first, local line of defense against hunger in communities across Iowa,” Naig said in the release. “More refrigeration at food pantries means more Iowa eggs, dairy, produce and meat can get on plates where it’s needed most.”