Hunger is a daily battle for families affected by a sudden job loss or unforeseen medical expenses, seniors who rely on Social Security as their largest and sometimes only source of income, the working poor, the disabled, and immigrants who are trying to create a better life in our country. While the services the Urbandale Food Pantry offers won’t cure hunger, it does ensure that our neighbors won’t go to bed hungry each night.
When you give to the Urbandale Food Pantry, you are stocking the shelves and putting food on the table for families in the Des Moines metro who often go without. Feeding America, a network of nationwide food pantries, estimates that over 50,000 people in Polk County identify as food insecure.
Monetary donations help us purchase highly sought after items, at a discount from our partner retailers. You can make an online donation, give through a check, or become a recurring donor to show your ongoing support. No matter how you give, know you are helping feed a hungry family in our community.
Checks can be made out to the Urbandale Food Pantry and mailed or dropped off to the following address:
7611 Douglas Ave, Suite 34 & 35
Donations of food and personal care items keep the Pantry stocked and ready to serve members of our community in need of a warm meal or basic hygiene products. Ongoing donations throughout the year are encouraged to ensure we can remain a reliable partner in the fight against hunger in the Des Moines metro. Donations can be dropped off at the following address during normal business hours.
Urbandale Food Pantry
7611 Douglas Ave, Suite 34 & 35
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
Our mission of providing food to families in need is made possible through the support of generous donations from local businesses, grocery stores, and individual donors giving what they can. We encourage donations for the following food items:
Providing healthy and safe food to hungry families is our top priority at the Pantry. That’s why we only accept donated items that can be verified as fresh and safe to consume for our clients. If you are unsure about the eligibility of a donation, give us a call at 515-251-6688 or email [email protected] and we will help you through the food donation process.
We are unable to accept the following food items:
Offering personal care items is one of the many ways we go beyond being just a food pantry. We welcome donations of basic hygiene items throughout the year to give clients the right to have a dignified personal care routine. Businesses, local organizations, and churches are encouraged to collect the “item of the month” and donate the collection to the Pantry at the end of the month. Shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toilet paper, toothpaste, pads and tampons, large size diapers, and baby wipes are just a few examples of highly requested personal care items at the Pantry.
The ability to serve members of our community wouldn't be possible without the unwavering support of our volunteers. They stock shelves, help clients find food, collect donations, and manage the general office work. As the face of the Pantry, our volunteers are held to the highest standard of cultural competency when interacting with clients. Find out more about volunteer opportunities and get involved in the fight against hunger today.
If you want to hold a food drive or fundraiser to benefit the Urbandale Food Pantry, contact our Executive Director for more information on coordinating with the Pantry for an event.
For those without a reliable source of food, the holiday season can be a tough time of the year. For families without access to food, sharing a holiday meal is not a guarantee. We work to change that through initiatives like our Thanksgiving Feed-a-Family program. Each November we accept donations for turkeys and traditional side dishes to distribute to families around Polk County. In 2017, we put food on the plates of 1,191 families on Thanksgiving day. Giving to the Urbandale Food Pantry during the holiday season will help ensure everyone gets to partake in the tradition of sharing a meal with loved ones during this time of year.
