Food Pantries and Food Assistance

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember three-digit phone number that provides information for basic health, human services, or community resources and is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Dial 211.

It offers community, nutrition, and case management services, as well as access to community resources. The agency contracts with local providers to help provide services to individuals living in a community setting, allowing them to remain in the least restrictive environment.

Help with applying for waiver services including for homecare. 

• Any Adult 60 years of Age or Older
• Any Adult 18 Years of Age or Older with a Disability
• Any Family Caregiver

Non-perishable items available during open hours.

Services: Food, Health, Housing, & Support

• Homeless Street Outreach Contact
  • Email: info@centraliowashelter.org 
  • Phone: 515-805-7883
• Shelter, meals, and support services are provided at no cost to adults experiencing homelessness, while also facilitating their move towards self-sufficiency.  The Shelter has a capacity of 150 people. 
• Coordinated Entry
• Rolling Hills Coalition: 15 counties in Southeast Iowa, including Jasper County.
• Empowerment Command Centers are located in Grinnell and Ottumwa.

AFTER HOURS CONTACT: Your Life Iowa: to connect and share information with agencies across the state that have signed a confidentiality agreement. 

Four Categories of the Homeless Definition

Within the homeless definition, there are four categories of homelessness:

1. Literally Homeless
2. Imminent Risk of Homelessness
3. Homeless Under Other Federal Statutes
4. Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence

Polk County Commodity Supplemental Food provides supplemental foods and nutrition education at no cost to low-income seniors age 60 and over in Polk, Dallas, Boone, Jasper, Story and Warren counties

Individuals receive healthy nutritious foods such as:

• Bottled Juice
• Canned Fruits
• Canned Vegetables
• Hot and Cold Cereals
• Peanut Butter and Beans
• Pastas
• Cheese
• Shelf stable 1% Milk and Powdered Milk

Participants shop in a grocery store-like atmosphere at Polk County River Place - 2309 Euclid Ave. Des Moines, Iowa.  Delivery is available for those with transportation and/or health related issues at NO COST!

Monthly newsletters provide great nutrition and health articles, as well as delicious recipes using the food you receive from the store

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm but we are closed the last two working days of each month and on county holidays.

THINGS NEEDED TO APPLY

• Proof of age. This is required and could be a driver’s license, birth certificate, state ID, etc.
• Monthly Income. This is self-declared and no proof is necessary. (Please see Senior Guidelines)

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply over the phone please call 515-286-3655.
• Print and mail an application for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Senior Application
• Apply in person at Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid Avenue in Des Moines.  Proof of age is required.
• Ask for an application to be mailed to you by calling 515-286-3655. 

Contact Us

(515) 286-3655 or 1-877-288-3655
Polk County River Place 
2309 Euclid Avenue
Des Moines, IA  50310

DMACC in Newton: Master Gardeners donate to the Salvation Army and the DMACC Food Pantry

Monroe Community Garden: 206 West Sherman Street, Monroe, IA

Ahrens Foundation Grinnell Giving Gardens: 1510 Penrose St, Grinnell, IA - Phone: 641-236-5518 Website: Ahrens Giving Garden

If you know other locations, please email jaspercocares@jasperia.org. 

1st Thursday of each month 5:30 to 7:30 pm

• 11/6/25 - Catholic Church
• 12/4/25 - Presbyterian Church
• 1/8/26 - Catholic Church
• 2/5/26 - Methodist Church
• March and April - Lenton Schedule
• 5/7/26 - Methodist Church

Email Nancy for more information.
 

Connections is a peer driven day program that offers support with the development of strategies to promote coping, problem-solving and self-management of your behavioral health. We want to empower you to accomplish your goals for housing, employment and any other areas of need. Connections is a safe place to socialize and make new friends!

Use your SNAP card to buy fresh produce and ‘ASK’ your cashier to sign-up for your Double Up Food Bucks card with your zip code and phone number.

Double Up Food Bucks campaign is an initiative where SNAP EBT users can double their money when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating locations. Double Up Food Bucks campaign is an initiative that allows SNAP EBT users to double their money when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating locations. Double Up Food Bucks is available in all Fareways, including Newton and Colfax in Jasper County, as well as the Prairie City Farmer’s Market and Grinnell Farmer’s Market seasonally. 

Access to simple food staples. Located in the lobby on the west side of the library. Available 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm on Friday, 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday.

Free pantry staples. Open to all. Stocked by volunteers three times a week. Supported by the Grinnell Food Coalition. Period products are donated by S.H.E. Counts.

Promotion of pre-made food bags to purchase for MICA.

Fareway does the food collecting and delivery.

Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.
Help starts here.

Wednesday night meal in Newton church basement.

At Food Bank of Iowa, we believe no one should have to go hungry. We gather and distribute more than 1.5 million pounds of nutritious food each month to 700 partners across 55 Iowa counties, providing assistance to those who need it most.

We recommend calling a pantry or partner before you go to check their hours and any requirements they may have.

FIND FOOD ASSISTANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY https://foodbankiowa.org/find-food/

Learn about food programs for Jasper County Schools

Free and Reduced Lunch Programs
Paid for through USDA, this program offers free and reduced-cost lunches to income-eligible children. Sign up through the schools. 

Montezuma Backpack Program
Food is placed in backpacks for students in need (identified by school staff or family). Please call your local school dist. For more information. 
Phone: 641-623-5121

Grinnell Tiger Packs & High School Food Pantry
Tiger packs include a bag of shelf-stable food placed in backpacks for students K-8th in need (identified by school staff or family). Questions may be addressed to the school your child attends. The Middle School and High School each have a food pantry and questions about the pantries can be directed to those schools. l, which also has a small food pantry.

GFC Food Vouchers - Put in BGM Backpacks. They can be redeemed at Grinnell Grocery Stores. Also available through:

• Grinnell Ministerial Association
• All Local Food Pantries

Summer Lunch Program

• Grinnell High School
• BGM School
   

Prepared meals home-delivered or for pick up locally three times per week (Tues, Thurs, Sat). Call to sign up.

Income-eligible children can have school lunch costs paid through the USDA. Please contact your child’s school in your area to get more information.

Grinnell High School Food Pantry is open to students in 9-12th grades to take home.

Located at the covered west entrance of Drake Community Library on Park Street, the fridge provides 24/7 public access to fresh food and produce for anyone in need—no questions asked.

Program Partners:

This initiative is supported by the Grinnell Organizing Collective, Grinnell College Center for Careers, Life & Service, and Grinnell Farm to Table.

Current Donors:

• Iowa Kitchen
• HyVee
• Grinnell College Global Kitchen
• Jimmy John's
• Pizza Hut
• Grinnell Community Meal

Thurs 5:30-6:00pm. Call (641) 236-3757 for information

Open to anyone. Meal is at the Grinnell United Methodist Church every Thursday at 5:30pm

The Center provides essential services, including job training, veterans resources, case management, health and wellness support, and pathways to permanent housing.

Pay What You Can Market on Saturdays from 1-5pm

• Beginning in May, located at Central Park.
• Debit, Credit, SNAP, WIC and Senior Checks accepted. Double Up Food Bucks program available.
   

Food available in Room 85 for students in grade 9-12 to take home.

The Grinnell Ministerial Association is a partnership of local faith communities that provides financial assistance and basic-needs support to individuals and families experiencing hardship. Assistance may include vouchers or support for gas, rent, medications, temporary hotel stays, food, and other essential needs for those experiencing poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, or homelessness.

Food placed in backpacks for students in need for the weekend during the school year. Students are identified by school staff, administration, or through family application. Talk with your child's teacher or administration to sign up. PreK-8th grade.

The food pantry was created to give a "hand up" to those who are in need of assistance for whatever reason. We are ready to serve you, all visits are confidential.

Breadline

Keyword search, food, food pantry, hungry, hunger, starving, homeless, bread

Meals nightly - Kids 12 & under - FREE -  Adults - $3.00.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership reduces the barriers and burdens that families in poverty experience by increasing access to essential needs. Assistance may be available for food and personal hygiene, utilities (heat, water, and cooling), housing (rent, deposit, and mortgage), and emergency needs. All services are available in the office, over the phone, and by a scheduled home visit. Several programs can also be accessed via online application, email, or postal mail. See our website or contact our team by phone or email to learn more. May offer assistance with emergency applications, such as those related to flood or weather damage events. 

Housing: 

• Utilities: LIHEAP (Low Income energy assistance program) help. Heat, water, and cooling. 
• Housing: Rent, deposit, and mortgage. 
• HOME ARP funds - allow eligible individuals with housing start-up costs (application fees, deposit, rent, and utility arrears).  This program is for those who have been recently released from incarceration in the last year.
• HOME CHAMP program -  a housing assistance initiative in Iowa, a collaboration between IMPACT Community Action Partnership and Wellpoint. It provides case management and direct financial assistance for housing costs to eligible Wellpoint members in Iowa. 
• Air Conditioner/Fan Program: limited supplies

Food Cards: IMPACT Resource Centers located in counties where we do not have a food pantry (Jasper, Marion, and Warren) offer limited access to food cards for local grocery stores. Please call 515-518-4770 to check on the availability of the cards.

RAYS Scholarship: for eligible low-income students to participate in sports, band, dance, etc.

Reserve a free prepared meal to pick up on Saturdays at 834 Park Street. Call by 12 pm on Saturday to reserve a meal, or by 12 pm on Friday to request a vegetarian meal.

What is the Program? Seniors can receive fresh, nutritious, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs from farmers’ markets and roadside stands. This program not only helps seniors but also helps develop new and additional farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community-supported agriculture programs.

• Each eligible individual receives 10 – $5 checks or $50 in benefits.
• The checks can be used to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey.
• Each person can receive SFMNP once per year.
• Checks can be used between June 1st and October 31st.

Am I eligible?

• You must be 60 years of age or older
• Your yearly income must be at or less than:
  • $27,861 if single
  • $37,814 if a married couple

How can I apply?

Area residents may apply by contacting IMPACT Community Action Partnership:

• By phone: 515-518-4770
• By email: info@impactcap.org

No one is turned away. Contact Dawn for more information.

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) helps individuals and families meet basic needs, build stability, and work toward self-sufficiency. Services include food assistance, WIC, energy assistance, Head Start and Early Head Start, family support, maternal and child health services, dental programs, health insurance assistance, and home weatherization.

Mom's Meals provides home-delivered, medically tailored meals designed by registered dietitians and professional chefs.

Mom’s Meals has meal options and programs that serve a wide range of health and nutritional needs. In many cases, meals may be covered under a health plan or other type of benefit. 

Seniors, check with Aging Resources.

Registration required for 6 restaurant meals per month, must be aged 60+. 

Call 800-779-8707, option 3, and ask about "Iowa Cafe" to sign up or leave a message.

Fresh produce available during the summer months. Other items available in the winter by appointment only. Debit, credit, SNAP, and WIC checks accepted.

The SNAP hotline is here to help you with qualification and application questions. Call 855-944-3663 or email foodassistanceoutreach@iowafba.org.

• The Commodity Supplemental Foods Program (CSFP) provides supplemental food and nutrition education for the elderly ages 60 and over at no cost.

We provide freshly made home-delivered meals in the central Iowa area.