School is out for the summer, but many Story County families are struggling to combat the severe food insecurity that comes with it.
Struggling families who rely on school meals are being forced to provide extra meals as temperatures rise.
Story County has seen an explosion in food insecurity since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 6,000 people being assisted by local food pantries and programs each month since 2022, according to data from Story County United Way.
Anneke Mandel, community impact director for Story County United Way, said they were serving 3,500 households a month before experiencing a slight decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As government stimulus payments ran out, those figures were nearly double what they were before the pandemic.
“That number went down to about 1,800 a month during the pandemic as people had more money in their pockets from the (pandemic) relief money,” Mandel said. “As soon as that ended, it spiked up and hasn't gone down since.”
Every community, every demographic will feel the impact
According to data collected by United Way, food insecurity impacts every community in Story County, from children to parents with children, single people to seniors, and no part of Story County, no zip code is left unaffected, Mandel said.
As the cost of living rises, food insecurity continues to grow.
“Inflation is really hitting people's wallets, and it's happening everywhere,” Mandel said. “It's surprising and alarming to see that demand is actually increasing rather than decreasing.”
Donations are encouraged and welcomed at Story County's various food pantries, and items such as cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter and canned meat are always in need, Mandel said.
Besides food, other products in high demand include shampoo, soap and laundry detergent.
Story County offers 16 food pantries and programs in local towns. A list of each program is below:
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Story County Pantry and Programs
Ballard Community Clothing and Food Pantry – Address: 602 N Main, Suite 105, Huxley. Contact: 515-291-3543. Hours: Wednesday 4-6pm, Saturday 10-12am, Sunday 1-3pm. Cambridge Food Pantry – Address: United Methodist Church, 215 2nd Street, Cambridge. Contact: 515-383-4392. Hours: Tuesday 6-7pm. Details: Visits are available every other week for people who live in or near Cambridge. 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. Hours: Tuesday 5:30-6:30 pm, Friday 9:30-10:30 am. Details: Local delivery available if needed. Call to make arrangements. Colo-NESCO School Pantry – Address: 919 West Street, Colo. Contact: 641-377-2282 or mboeve@colo-nesco.k12.ia.us. Details: By appointment only for students and families of the Colo-NESCO Community School District. Colo Public Library Little Free Pantry – Address: 309 Main Street, Colo. Contact: 641-377-2900 or cololibrary@netins.net. Hours: Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm, Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Details: Open to all, no capacity restrictions. Cubbie's Cupboard at Nevada Middle School – Address: 1035-15th Street, Nevada. Contact: 515-382-2751. Hours: Wednesday, 4pm to 5:30pm or by appointment. Details: For Nevada Community School District students and their families. Gilbert “Backpack Buddies” – Contact: woodinm@gilbertcsd.org. Details: Gilbert School is affiliated with Gilbert Lutheran Church. Huxley Food Pantry – Address: 503 East 1st Street (south behind Casey's), Huxley. Contact: 515-597-2831. Hours: Wednesday 6pm to 7pm, Thursday 10am to 11am. Details: Huxley and Kelly residents only. Loaves & Fish Food Pantry – Address: 204 W. Broad Street, Story City. Hours: Saturday 10am to 12pm (except holidays and Scandinavian Day). Maxwell-Collins Food Pantry – Address: First Presbyterian Church, 221 Main Street, Maxwell. Contact: 515-387-8505 or 515-491-5338. Hours: 3rd Tuesday of each month, 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Details: Maxwell and Collins residents only. Nevada Community Cupboard – Address: St. Patrick's Church, 1110 – 11th Street (inside the garage), Nevada. Contact: 515-231-7175. Hours: Saturday 10am-11:30am. Details: Open only to residents of eastern Story County communities. Nevada Food at First Meal Location – Address: First United Methodist Church, 1036 7th Street, Nevada. Contact: 515-382-6536. Meals: Monday and Thursday 5:30pm-6pm. Details: Call or use this link https://bit.ly/3c3bfS9 to order to-go meals by 3:30pm. Details: Pick up meals at the church or a designated nearby location. Follow Nevada Food at First on Facebook. There is no limit on monthly visits. Norseman Food Pantry at Rowland Story Middle School – Address: 206 S. Main Street, Rowland. Contact: 515-388-4348. Slater/Sheldahl Food Pantry – Contact: 515-231-5643 (Judy), 515-231-0046 (Craig), 515-228-3076. Hours: Tuesday 10am to 11am, Wednesday 7pm to 8pm. Details: Available for visits twice a month. Zearing-McCallsburg Food Pantry – Address: 107 W. Main Street, Zearing. Contact: 641-487-7271. Hours: Wednesday 5pm to 6:30pm. Details: Available for visits every other week for Zearing and McCallsburg residents only.
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Takeaway Meals
Story Medical Center is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Department of Education, Story County United Way, Food at First and local school districts to provide summer meals to children and teens.
This summer, children and young people age 18 and under can receive free grab-and-go meals in the Collins-Maxwell School District. Children can receive multiple days' worth of meals.
Meals are available for pickup at the following times:
Tuesday/Friday (June 4-Aug. 23) 11 a.m. – Rolling Hills Mobile Home Park, Lot 119, 31100 653rd Ave., MaxwellFriday only (June 7-July 12) 1:30 a.m. – Collins/Maxwell High School, 400 Metcalf Street, MaxwellTuesday/Friday (July 16-Aug. 23) 11:30 a.m. – Collins/Maxwell High School, 400 Metcalf Street, MaxwellFriday only (June 7-July 12) Noon – Collins/Maxwell Elementary School, 416 4th Ave. CollinsTuesday/Friday (July 16-Aug. 23) Noon – Collins/Maxwell Elementary School, 416 4th Ave. Collins
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Celia Blocker is the government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
