Sign Up to Participate in the 2026 Food Drive!
Food Drive: April 27 - May 7 | Collection Day: May 8
Every spring, our community proves what's possible when people decide to show up for one another. Businesses open their doors. Donations pile up. Volunteers hit the road.
The 2026 United Way Food Drive runs April 27 through May 7, with our big collection day on Friday, May 8. Whether you host a collection site at your workplace, open your doors to the wider community, or spend a Friday morning on our pick-up crew, we need you to make. Every site, every box, every mile driven brings us closer to a community where no one has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.
This is what collective care looks like. This is what belonging feels like. And we'd love to see you there.
Collection Sites
Open your business or organization into a hub for community impact. Choose to collect internally among your team, or open your doors to the wider community.
Collection Day Volunteers
It takes many hands to move 20,000+ pounds of donations! Spend a Friday morning picking up donations from collection sites delivering them to food pantries across Story County.
Monetary Donations
Food pantries welcome monetary donations, in addition to nonperishable and hygiene items. Why? They need to purchase meat, milk, eggs, and other staples for their visitors. Some items can be purchased at a reduced rate from Food Bank of Iowa, meaning your donated dollar can go further than at a grocery store.
There are several ways to donate:
- Cash or check – Drop these off at our office and designate "Food" in the memo line.
- Online – Make a donation on our website using the “Donate” tab. Include your employer’s name if you want to be sure your donation is credited to a specific organization. Under “Association with a special project,” choose "Other” and write "Food" in the text box.
- Venmo – Use this QR code to donate, making sure to put “Food" in the memo.
Physical Donations
Check out the pantry wish list below, or grab some of your favorite items next time you're at the store! Think of what you'd like to feed your family. Cake mixes with cooking oil, mixed nuts for a healthy snack. Plus, some high-demand items (like paper products) aren't in stock at the food bank, thus can't be purchased at a reduced rate, and the pantry needs them on their shelves for local families!
Interested in becoming a United Way Food Drive Drop Off location?
Complete the form by clicking here or email Allegra Selzer, Associate Director of Community Impact.