On top of classwork and extracurricular pressures, many college students also face food insecurity. A 2023 National Library of Medicine review reports that college students tend to experience food insecurity at a higher rate than their local communities on average. Blake Willadsen, marketing and communications manager at Des Moines Area Religious Council, says this challenge is difficult to manage due to limited time and resources
“There’s been a lot of great national research and a lot of studies that are just starting to kind of crack what the impact is for folks who are especially transition-age youth,” Willadsen said. “You are navigating such a tricky time in life already.”
DMARC is an interfaith organization that manages 14 food pantries around the metro area. Willadsen said individuals may go to food pantries for a variety of reasons.
“There are so many challenges that do make it so folks may have to rely on food pantries in a long-term way, but so many people, this is just they’ve hit a bump in the road,” Willadsen said. “They are working really, really hard, and income is just not enough to get by in the way that they’d hope.”
Food insecurity may be a new experience for some individuals or families, but Willadsen noted nearly one-third of DMARC’s food pantry users last year were first-time visitors.
DMARC encourages Drake students struggling with food insecurity to use food pantries for support. Additionally, students can get a free meal from Children and Family Urban Movement’s Supper Club.
Children and Family Urban Movement is a non-profit organization based in the Des Moines area. CFUM initially offered food services, but soon recognized a need for educational programs in the area. Now, the organization provides food as well as after-school and summer programs to the River Bend community.
Andy Bales, the executive director of CFUM, is proud of the programs offered by the organization and their impact on the community.
“We have stories of not only students coming to our program being connected with our family K through 12, but we have mentors who signed up, been reading buddies, and then grew into mentors who stayed connected K through 12,” Bales said.
The after-school program, named The Haven, provides kids with literary and STEM activities as well as recreational fun. Moulton Elementary, the first school CFUM worked with before expanding last year, is no longer listed among the struggling elementary schools in Iowa, according to Bales.
“CFUM has made a huge difference, and we’ve made it with not only a lot of time and effort, but with a lot of love,” Bales said.
One of the first programs to be offered to the community, the Supper Club is a program open to the general public. CFUM provides free dinner five days a week, year-round. AJ Salinas, assistant executive director of CFUM, said that the program is not just for people in need of a meal, but for anybody who wants to come, connect and create a community.
“Supper Club is open to anybody, no questions asked,” Salinas said. “They can come from all over to participate, to eat a meal, to utilize our food pantry.”
Bales encourages Drake students to work at The Haven and continue to volunteer through their summer program. Students can also sign up to be volunteers for the Supper Club through their website. CFUM used to have a partnership program with Drake, according to Salinas.
“We’re trying to just come up with new ways to get [Drake students] involved because, you know, every time they’re involved, it’s an exciting time here,” Salinas said. “Our kids get excited; they really look up to the college-age students and can provide a different energy that is always nice to have.”
