Story County food pantries and programs combat insecurity during the summer

While the summer means a break from school, many Story County families scramble to combat the intense crush of food insecurity that comes with it.

Struggling families who rely on school lunches find themselves needing to provide extra meals as the temperatures rise.

Food insecurity has exploded in Story County in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from United Way of Story County says 6,000 people have been served every month by local food pantries and programs since 2022.

United Way of Story County Community Impact Director Anneke Mundel said they used to serve 3,500 families a month before experiencing a slight dip during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those numbers nearly doubled the pre-pandemic rate once the government stimulus checks ran dry.

"During the pandemic that number dropped to as low as about 1,800 a month because people had extra money in their wallets due to (pandemic) support," Mundel said. "As soon as those ended, we spiked up and haven't gone down."

All communities, demographics feel effects

Food security impacts all Story County communities according to data United Way has gathered. From kids to parents with children, single adults and seniors, there's not a group or Story County zip code left out, Mundel said.

Food security continues to spread as the cost of living rises.

"Inflation is really hitting folks' pocketbooks, and we're seeing that across the board," Mundel said. "It's amazing and alarming because we're not seeing the need going down, we're seeing it growing."

Story County's various pantries encourage and welcome donations. Items like cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter, and canned meat are always needed, Mundel said.

Besides food, other high-need products include shampoo, soap, and laundry detergent.

Story County offers 16 food pantries and programs across the smattering of local towns. Here is a list of each program:

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Story County pantries and programs

• Ballard Community Clothing/Food Pantry - Address: 602 N Main, Suite 105, Huxley. Contact: 515-291-3543. Open hours: Wednesdays 4 – 6 p.m, Saturdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Sundays 1- 3 p.m.

• Cambridge Food Pantry - Address: United Methodist Church, 215 2nd Street, Cambridge. Contact: 515-383-4392. Open hours: Tuesdays 6 – 7 p.m. Details: Those living in or near Cambridge can visit every other week.

• Cambridge Supplemental Food (“His Work, Our Hands”) and Little Free Pantry - Address: Pantry at 2nd & Vine. Contact: 515-231-0169 or rceynar@hotmail.com.

• Colo Food Pantry - Address: United Methodist Church, 602 4th Street, Colo. Contact: 641-377-2534 Open hours: Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Fridays 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Details: Local deliveries if needed; call to arrange.

• Colo-NESCO School Pantry - Address: 919 West Street, Colo. Contact: 641-377-2282 or mboeve@colo-nesco.k12.ia.us. Details: By appointment for students of the Colo-NESCO Community School District and their families.

• Colo Public Library Little Free Pantry - Address: 309 Main Street, Colo. Contact: 641-377-2900 or cololibrary@netins.net. Open hours: Mondays thru Fridays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Details: Open to anyone with no limit.

• Cubbie’s Cupboard at Nevada Middle School - Address: 1035-15th Street, Nevada. Contact: 515-382-2751. Open hours: Wednesdays 4 – 5:30 pm or by appointment. Details: For students of Nevada Community School District and their families.

• Gilbert “Backpack Buddies” – Contact: woodinm@gilbertcsd.org. Details: Gilbert Schools in partnership with Gilbert Lutheran.

• Huxley Food Pantry - Address: 503 East 1st Street (behind south Casey’s), Huxley. Contact: 515-597-2831. Open hours: Wednesdays 6 – 7 pm. Thursdays 10 – 11 am. Details: Huxley and Kelley residents only.

• Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry – Address: 204 W. Broad Street, Story City. Open hours: Saturdays 10 a.m. – 12 pm except holidays & Scandinavian Days.

• Maxwell-Collins Food Pantry - Address: First Presbyterian Church, 221 Main Street, Maxwell. Contact: 515-387-8505 or 515-491-5338. Open hours: Third Tuesday of the month, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Details: Maxwell and Collins residents only.

• Nevada Community Cupboard - Address: St. Patrick’s Church, 1110 – 11th Street (in the garage), Nevada. Contact: 515-231-7175. Open hours: Saturdays 10 – 11:30 a.m. Details: Only for residents of eastern Story County communities.

• Nevada Food at First Meal Site - Address: First United Methodist Church, 1036 7th Street, Nevada. Contact: 515-382-6536. Meals: Mondays & Thursdays 5:30 – 6 p.m. Details: Call or use this link https://bit.ly/3c3bfS9 to order carry-out meals by 3:30 p.m. Details: Pick up meals at church or designed neighborhood locations. Follow Nevada Food at First on Facebook. No limits in monthly visits.

• Norseman Food Pantry at Roland-Story Middle School - Address: 206 S. Main Street, Roland. Contact: 515-388-4348.

• Slater/Sheldahl Food Pantry - Address: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 411 3rd Ave (brown/blue building), Slater. Contact: 515-231-5643 (Judy), 515-231-0046 (Craig), 515-228-3076. Open hours: Tuesdays 10 – 11 a.m., Wednesdays 7 – 8 p.m. Details: Can be visited twice per month.

• Zearing-McCallsburg Food Pantry - Address: 107 W. Main Street, Zearing. Contact: 641-487-7271. Open hours: Wednesdays 5 – 6:30 p.m. Details: Can be visited every other week by Zearing & McCallsburg residents only.

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Grab & Go Meals

Story Medical Center is partnering with the USDA, Iowa Department of Education, United Way of Story County, Food at First, and rural school districts to provide summer meals for kids and teens.

This summer, children and teens 18 and under can pick up free grab-and-go meals in the Collins-Maxwell School District. Kids are allowed to take meals for multiple days.

Meals can be received at the following dates and times:

• Tuesday/Friday (June 4 through August 23) at 11 a.m. - Rolling Hills Mobile Home Park, Lot 119, 31100 653rd Ave., Maxwell

• Friday Only (June 7-July 12) at 1:30 a.m. - Collins/Maxwell High School, 400 Metcalf Street, Maxwell

• Tuesday/Friday (July 16-August 23) at 11:30 a.m. - Collins/Maxwell High School, 400 Metcalf Street, Maxwell

• Friday Only (June 7-July 12) at noon - Collins/Maxwell Elementary School, 416 4th Ave. Collins

• Tuesday/Friday (July 16-August 23) at noon - Collins/Maxwell Elementary School, 416 4th Ave. Collins

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Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Get help from Story County's 16 food pantries and programs