The government shutdown that ended last month affected many services that people rely on—not the least of which was SNAP, which helps provide food to low-income families. Nearly 270,000 Iowans depend on monthly SNAP benefits to feed themselves—part of the 42 million Americans who depend on SNAP nationwide. Iowa’s food pantries and community providers have already faced challenges in meeting area needs, given rising rates of food insecurity. But the positive side to the SNAP debacle is that many people and organizations have stepped up to cover the shortfall.
If you think food insecurity is not an issue in Iowa, take a look at these shocking statistics: Feeding America’s May 2025 study, based on 2023 data, reported that 12 percent of Iowa adults (1 in 8) and 16.6 percent of Iowa children (1 in 6) face food insecurity. Food insecurity increased in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Fairfield resident Josh Blew puts the difficulties of losing SNAP into perspective. “I normally depend on food assistance for half of my groceries. . . . Without SNAP, I don’t have enough to make up the difference. I literally have half as much.”
Grocery chains, civic organizations, local churches, charitable organizations, and citizens have donated funds and food to help keep people from going hungry. Some examples are Iowa’s Optimae LifeServices, which donated $30,000 to four Feeding America food banks. The Lord’s Cupboard in Fairfield got a generous freezerful of food from Williams Automotive. The Coralville Community Food Pantry has seen many organizations and individuals step up to help, and the City of Iowa City sponsored a November food drive at ten locations. Kind neighbors in Fairfield are keeping 13 Little Free Pantries well stocked—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Barb Sieren of the Lord’s Cupboard, which provides Jefferson County residents with emergency food services, says they saw a marked increase in the number of clients using their pantry last month. She says community support has increased in reaction to the growing need, with generous financial gifts as well as donations of proteins and canned goods. “We’ve got an awesome community,” she says. “A lot of people are backing us, so that’s wonderful.”
Zane Safrit, a volunteer with the First United Methodist Church food pantry, says the number of those receiving food aid in Jefferson County has skyrocketed in the past 5 years. “For instance,” he says, “First United Methodist had their first food pantry in June 2020. They served 15 households. In November 2025, we served 205 households. That’s a 13.67-fold increase in 5 years.”
Sieren encourages everyone to keep the donations coming, whether modest or large. “Anything really does help, even if it’s just a small amount of money, goods, protein, canned items, or cereals.”
What to Donate
Food pantries aim to provide nutritious and satisfying staples. They prefer donations of high-protein canned meats and beans, shelf-stable tofu, nut butters, canned or aseptically packaged soups, nonperishable fruits and vegetables, applesauce, fruit or vegetable juice, whole-grain carbohydrates such as rice, cereal, pasta, and oatmeal, healthy snacks such as granola bars, whole grain crackers and nuts, jams or jellies, salad dressings, baby food, infant formula, and personal care products. Check with your local food pantry to see if they accept fresh produce.
America is the richest country in the world. In this land of plenty, no one needs to go hungry. Help out by donating food or funds to your local food pantry!
Resources for Food
Here’s a partial list of regional food banks, food pantries, and other supportive resources, such as free meals at churches and area soup kitchens.
The Lord’s Cupboard, 303 N. 4th Street, Fairfield. Residents who meet the income guidelines can receive a weekly order of bread or rolls, milk, and a protein. Once every three months, clients may also receive a larger order that includes canned foods, bakery and meat items, milk, and non-food supplies.
The First Lutheran Church, at 201 W Briggs, Fairfield, offers a Drive-By Supper every Tuesday, 4:00–5:15 p.m., except the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
The Optimae Resource and Recovery Center, at 301 West Burlington Ave., Fairfield, offers free lunches Monday through Friday, 12–1 p.m.
The Stone Soup Community Kitchen, located in Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main St., Fairfield, is a donation-based food service that offers dinner (both dine-in and take-away) Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 5:30–8 p.m. Anyone is welcome to get food for free or donate what they can.
The First Church of the Nazarene, Briggs and Fifth, Fairfield, offers a food bank drive-through pickup every third Thursday of the month, 4–5 p.m. TEFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program) is required.
The First United Methodist Church holds a monthly food bank on the first Tuesday of each month at 201 N. Court St., Fairfield. Pickups start of 2:30 p.m. TEFAP is required. To sign up, email foodbank.FairfieldUMC@gmail.com.
The Well Resource Center, a charitable organization with branches in Pella, Fairfield, Knoxville and Ames, offers free meals as part of its outreach programs at some of its locations.
First Resources Corp, an Ottumwa-based organization, provides services to people with disabilities in Bloomfield, Burlington, Centerville, Fairfield, Oska-loosa, Ottumwa, Sigourney, Washington, Keosauqua, Knoxville and Mount Pleasant. It offers weekly food boxes to clients who fill out an application.
The Fellowship Cup Food Pantry, 203 N. Jefferson St. in Mount Pleasant, is open Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Filling out a short registration form is required.
Community Action of Southeast Iowa serves a number of counties, offering emergency food for anyone in need. Applicants initially meet with a Family Development Specialist to answer questions about their household and income.
The Coralville Community Food Pantry provides weekly food and personal care items to residents of Coralville, Tiffin, and Oxford. The average household visits twice a month, selecting 55 pounds of food per visit. People who cannot visit the food pantry may request home delivery. Visit CoralvilleFoodPantry.org.
To find food pantries in your area, visit FoodBankIowa.org.
To find a Little Free Pantry near you, use the map at LittleFreePantry .org. For Fairfield locations, see the list below or visit Jefferson County Little Free Pantries on Facebook.
1. 1112 Granville Ave. / MIU Campus
2. 605 E. Madison Ave
3. 410 West Lowe
4. 1300 S. Second St.
5. 500 E. Burlington Ave.
6. 2200 W. Jefferson / SEIDA
7. 1903 US 34 Bus / ReStore
8. Lockridge, near Post Office
9. 108 N. Main St., / Liberty City Hall
10. 501 N. Second St. / Everybody’s
11. 2601 W. Briggs / Foursquare Churchj
12. 302 W. Jefferson / The Gathering Place
13. 205 W. Broadway / First Baptist Church
14. 201 N. Court St. / First United Methodist
15. 200 S. Main St., / Golden Magnolia
16. 2000A S. Main St. / JCHC Dialysis Center
