It Takes a Village - Feeding the Community

The information below is accurate as of October 31, 2025. Things change fast, so some of the resources mentioned may no longer be relevant at the time of reading.

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What is this world we are living in right now? I don't recognize it. My heart breaks for the state of humanity multiple times per day. I know I am not alone in this. There are so many others who lead with empathy and compassion - and we need these people now more than ever. 

With the current government shutdown, 42 million of individuals and families in the U.S. may soon lose access to their SNAP benefits. There are funds available, but we all know who is preventing them from being disbursed. As I type, a judge is trying to force distribution of the earmarked funds.  

​This was posted on the Iowa Health & Human Services website as of this morning, October 31:

This statement was further confirmed via the USDA website through a (partisan) banner alert in place on October 31:

Outside of this news, and even if SNAP benefits aren't withheld for long or at all, our communities still needs support. With prices skyrocketing, doing what we can to ensure our neighbors have food in their bellies is the least we can do. 

I was on a call the other night with the Insufferable Wenches of Iowa (IWOI) group where the main topic discussed was how we can help feed those in need. As members shared information and resources, I jotted down a long list of notes because many of the ideas and recommendations presented were not ones I had thought about myself and wanted to share. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you'd like to help feed your community:

• The IWOI is running their own "Wenches Food Drive."
• ​Supporting your local food bank is probably what comes to mind for most people. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB) is the one nearest me and they do incredible work. Because of a new development about the State of Iowa using "existing state funds to match all cash donations to Iowa’s six regional food banks up to $1 million," the NEIFB has a specific page set up to contribute toward that initiative: Support for NEIFB During Government Shutdown.
  • I didn't consider the fact that physically getting to the NEIFB facility may not be possible for some people and, even if they can make it, after hours needs may arise that can't be met. Additionally, to qualify for some forms of assistance there can be income restrictions and, in general, a person can only visit twice per month, see image below. This is why it is important to consider other routes of food distribution.

• Keep small towns and other pantry locations in mind. Try finding a food pantry near you to give to directly. There are so many pantries out there I wasn't aware of!
• In cities like Des Moines, they offer community fridges that need regular restocking. This document shares fridge locations in Des Moines and a few other towns.
• Consider other organizations that provide social services. People may be accessing these organizations for things other than food, but providing free food could be part of what they offer. Some ideas include:
  • Iowa Mutual Aid
  • Veterans Affairs
  • Americans for Independent Living - Veteran Resource Center
  • The Salvation Army
  • Friends of the Family
  • House of Hope
• Volunteer to serve a meal. There are places such as the Cedar Valley Hospitality House in Waterloo that welcome the community in to provide a warm, home-cooked meal for their tenants.
• If you are connected to a restaurant or business that serves or sells food, ask where unused food goes. It's a question worth asking. There is a Community Kitchen in Mason City that collaborates with local businesses to use their discarded food to make meals for those who need it. This  business model is a genius way to help cut down on food waste and make sure people don't go hungry.
• Handy? Build a Little Free Pantry in your yard so you and others can keep it stocked for those in your neighborhood to benefit.
• Improve how you donate physical goods. It's common for people to donate items out of their pantry they don't want. There's a high likelihood those visiting the pantry don't want it either, for a variety of reasons! One might be they don't know how to use it. Consider assembling meal kits with non-perishable items that include a recipe card. Dollar Tree Dinners has some great ideas - Facebook  |  TikTok. Dry beans can be a good replacement for meat as protein. Including instruction on how to prepare the beans and/or grouping them with other ingredients to create a meal can make using the items less intimidating. And, of course, providing healthy options is ideal.
• Give what you can, even if it's $1. Cash can go a long way in food banks. They have access to food at lower costs so can buy more with less. Giving money is no less valuable than giving physical goods. Both are needed and appreciated.

I hope this list helps take away some of the action paralysis you may be feeling amidst all the suffering we're being bombarded with right now. If you have more ideas, PLEASE share them in the comments.

It's on us to take care of each other 💖