St Mark Neighborhood Fridge

Community Fridge, Free will donations

New Beginnings Christian Church Fridge

Community Fridge, free will donations

Grace United Methodist Church

Community Fridge, Free will donations

Des Moines Central Library

Community Fridge, free will donations

Des Moines Franklin Ave Library

Community Fridge, Free will donations

Des Moines South Side Library

Community Fridge, Free will donations

Des Moines Forrest Ave Library

Community Fridge, free will donations

Urbandale Public Library

Community Fridge, free will donations

Altoona Public Library

Community Fridge, Free will donations

DMACC Ankeny

Community Fridge

DMACC Southridge Center

Community Fridge

Carelon Health (fka Caremore)

Community Fridge

Oakridge Neighborhood Services

Community Pantries

Common Bond Properties

community fridge

DMACC  Urban Campus

Community Fridge

3 day food supply, personal care and household cleaning items.  Bring a photo ID. Items vary. Quantities based on family size

Full service food panty

DMARC Food pantry, anytime food pantry, personal care pantry

West Des Moines Food & Personal care pantry

food pantry

Eddie Davis

Des Moines Public schools’ food pantries provide food assistance to your child, call your child’s main school office for assistance.

Urban Dreams Community Food Pantry

Visit once a day Mon – Friday for food pantry

IMPACT Polk County Drake Neighborhood

once a month food pantry

IMPACT Polk County Ankeney Located in the community resource Connection Bldg.

Food pantry

Polk County Health Department creates the conditions for all people to live healthy lives by engaging residents, reducing health disparities and attending to the needs of our most vulnerable families.

The Polk County Department of Community, Family & Youth Services manages and provides a variety of direct and purchased services for families and individuals in all age groups.

Photo ID of Veterans Status required during Veterans hours. https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/veteran-affairs/news/2025-veterans-coat-giveaway/

Community Health Partners offers the Healthy Families Program to parent(s) who are expecting a baby or have a newborn infant. Healthy Families is nationally accredited by Healthy Families America. It is a free, voluntary, culturally humble program that focuses on family strengths and healthy parent child interaction and bonding. The goals of the Healthy Families Program are safe and healthy children and families, empowered parents, and school ready children. Priority for service is given to single parents, first-time parents, and teen parents.

WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infant and children. WIC is a federally funded public health nutrition program helping families by providing healthy foods, nutrition education, and referrals to other health care agencies.

Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa offers free and confidential services to parents to be in central Iowa. Pregnancy center of central Iowa offers an educational incentive program. Participants earn points for attending pregnancy classes. The points are used to redeem for needed baby items.

Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.

The purpose of the Regional Genetics Consultation service is to provide genetic health care services and education for patients and families within the state of Iowa through statewide outreach services; in order to promote health, prevent disease, reduce the incidence of congenital disorders and improve outcomes for those with birth defects and genetic disorders.

Ruth Harbor is a Christ-centered home for young women who are alone and facing unplanned pregnancies. “Ruth” means compassion; “Harbor” means a place of refuge, safety, retreat, shelter.

Ruth Harbor is a resident home located in Des Moines and Carlisle. It provides young women who are alone and facing unplanned pregnancies a truly viable option — a safe harbor — by providing housing, education, counseling, health care, parenting training or adoption assistance, spiritual support and more for the duration of their pregnancies.

Our Safe and Healthy Housing program is available for low-income families that live in the greater Des Moines Metro area and need repairs to their home to maintain safety for the resident(s).

Salvation Army provides financial assistance for rent, utilities, furniture, clothing, and bus passes. Funding is limited.

Appointments for the week are made only by telephone starting at 8:30 am on Mondays. You must contact staff directly, do not leave a message on voice mail.  Salvation Armyy Family Services offers a variety of financial assistance options. Please contact to schedule an appointment.

The Scott County Health Department promotes, protects, and preserves health through leadership, service, education and partnerships.

Healthy Child Care Iowa supports registered nurse child care health consultants (CCHC) throughout Iowa. The child care nurse consultants provide on-site consultations, technical assistance, and training to child care providers.

There is a toll-free talk line available to child care providers and families for health related questions and to be connected to a child care nurse consultant. The Healthy Families hotline number is 1-800-369-2229.

HOPES-HFI is a home visiting program and serves families with young children. The program goals are to promote child health and development, improve family relationships, and encourage positive parenting and family relationships.

Providing a trusted partner to single parents and their families by offering programs and services to help single parent families strengthen and thrive.

Programming and activities provided for children and youth aged 0-18, so while moms enjoy this uplifting evening, their children will enjoy a fun evening complete with activities, games, and a meal of their own.

Community Health Partners is the local public health agency for Sioux County, Iowa.  Community Health Partners works to ensure that all people living in Sioux County have the opportunity to make choices that will help them live longer, healthier lives, regardless of their income, education or ethnic background.

HOPES-HFI is a home visiting program and serves families with young children. The program goals are to promote child health and development, improve family relationships, and encourage positive parenting and family relationships.

Home visiting Program with Group based educational classes. An incentive program that earns points for essential items.

Positive Family Group

Necessary items like diapers, wipes, and detergent are available as well as beds, and a limited supply of like new clothing and baby quilts.

HOPES-HFI is a home visiting program and serves families with young children. The program goals are to promote child health and development, improve family relationships, and encourage positive parenting and family relationships.

Carroll County Nest

The Carroll County Nest is an incentive program that provides encouragement for parents to meet outcomes such as early and regular prenatal care, participation in programs to increase healthy behaviors, attendance at class on various topics related to pregnancy, infant care, and appropriate use of community services.

Families receive points for attending prenatal doctor visits, participating in educational activities, and living a healthy lifestyle.  Points are exchanged for items such as diapers, wipes, safety items, clothing, or toys. Participates are required to complete an educational activity once a month such as attending a class or reading material related to pregnancy until baby turns 1 year old.

St. Theresa Catholic Church operates a supplemental/emergency food pantry out of their church office. They offer a variety of fresh, frozen, canned, and packaged food, along with personal care products. Eligible households can access the pantry once per month. St. Theresa Food Pantry is a Food Bank of Iowa member agency.

Since being established in Des Moines in 1924, the main focus of St. Vincent de Paul’s (SVdP) work is to assist those living in poverty in becoming self-sufficient by helping to remove roadblocks as we walk with them on their journey out of poverty. The Des Moines Council operates two thrift stores, two social services departments, an education center, and a child watch center.

Educates, equips, and empowers young people living in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances by using arts, entertainment, music, and a variety of other methods. This program is designed to serve youth in a supportive, empowering environment.

The Office of Ombudsman serves as an independent and impartial agency to which citizens can air their grievances about government. By facilitating communications between citizens and government and making recommendations to improve administrative practices and procedures, the Ombudsman promotes responsiveness and quality in government. The Ombudsman has authority to investigate complaints about Iowa state and local government, with certain exceptions. The Ombudsman attempts to resolve most problems informally. Following an investigation, the Ombudsman may make findings and recommendations and publish a report.

Helps empower adolescents and young adults that have been affected by cancer. Provides equal access to quality, holistic care no matter age, diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sexuality, or gender.

This program is based out of New York but offers virtual meet ups for support.

Community refrigerators are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.

The Sweet Tooth Farm Community Refrigerator is located at parking lot of HOME Inc.

his is an educational incentive program. Participates earn points for healthy behaviors and encouragement to receive early and regular prenatal medical care, The points are redeemed for needed baby items for child up to 2 years old.

Taylor County Public Health works to protect, promote, and enhance the health and well-being of the environment and residents of Taylor County through our health services, prevention programs and health education.

The Ankeny Klothing Exchange (TAKE) is a non-profit organization that operates a store offering free gently used clothing, shoes, linens, household goods, and more to people in need.

The Bridge Home is a non-profit organization devoted to bridging the gap between homelessness and housing by providing shelter, support, and inspiring a pathway forward for individuals and families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness.

The Connection Cafe is a free lunch program for homeless and low-income people in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. We serve lunch at noon every Monday-Friday to our honored guests. Hosted by The Bridge.