One in eight Iowans and approximately 11 percent of Poweshiek County residents experience food insecurity daily, according to the Food Bank of Iowa and 2018 data from Iowa State University.
The following guide outlines several of the options available in the community.
Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA):
MICA serves families in Poweshiek County, connecting them to different services. In Poweshiek County, MICA has an emergency food pantry for residents at Poweshiek County Family Services located at 609 4th Avenue, Grinnell, IA. Its hours include Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or up to six months postpartum qualify for WIC, which is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. Through WIC, families can be provided with baby formula, vouchers for healthy food, breastfeeding help, and nutrition education. If you are interested in WIC or wish to speak with MICA, they can be contacted at (641) 752-7162.
Since February 2021, the Iowa Kitchen has been serving weekly Saturday community meals to the Grinnell community. To see what they are cooking, you can visit their Facebook page at The Iowa Kitchen. To reserve food, call (641) 236-3657 by 12 p.m. on Saturday. To reserve a vegetarian meal, call by 12 p.m. on Friday. The food can be picked up at 834 Park Street, Grinnell, IA.
Grinnell Farm to Table works with local producers to ensure all individuals have access to fresh and healthy food. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes of fresh and local food are available to families in Poweshiek County. To check if you qualify, reach out to Grinnell Farm To Table on their website or contact MICA at (641) 752-7162.
Farm to Table also has a “pay-what-you-can” market Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. at their headquarters at 1032 Main Street, Grinnell, IA.
Grinnell United Methodist Church (GUMC):
GUMC hosts a weekly community meal on Thursday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend. Their location is 916 5th Avenue, Grinnell, IA. If you have questions, GUMC can be reached at (641) 236-3757.
The Iowa Café Program provides those over 60 with 6 free meals a month at certain restaurants. In Grinnell, Westside Family Restaurant at 229 6th Avenue West is a participating location. You can register online (print readers can find this link on the S&B website). For questions, the program can be reached at (800) 779-8707.
Claude W. & Dolly Ahrens Foundation:
The Ahrens Foundation has created and funds several programs to help Grinnell residents combat food insecurity, including the Grinnell Food Coalition and Tiger Packs.
The Grinnell Food Coalition serves over 400 families in Grinnell. The coalition publishes a local food resources guide that walks residents through where to find pantries, weekly meal programs and emergency support. Print readers can access the guide through the link posted with this article online.
Tiger Packs provides weekly bags of food to eligible K–8 students in the Grinnell–Newburg district to help cover weekends. The program has grown as the share of students receiving free or reduced lunch has risen from 30.6 percent in 2007–08 to 37 percent today.
