Home The Iowa Hunger Directory Resources Collaborative Hunger Initiatives in Iowa

Collaborative Hunger Initiatives in Iowa

Iowans pride ourselves on knowing our neighbors and helping each other whenever we have a chance. What does it look like when we apply those values to our work alleviating hunger?

Quick Guide to Collaborative Hunger Initiatives in Iowa

County	Initiative	More Info
Boone	Boone Hunger Coalition is working on a directory of food pantries in Boone County and a travelling exhibit on hunger and how to help. They are a subcommittee of the Boone County Homeless Prevention Board.	Link
Buena Vista	Buena Vista Hunger Dialogue convened by SALUD!, a multi-cultural health coalition.	Link
Crawford	Crawford County Hunger Fighters is a network of communities in Crawford County, Iowa working together to provide assistance to needy kids and bulk food distribution to needy families.	Link
Dallas	Hunger-Free Dallas County is a loose network of health and human services providers that regularly releases a guide to food pantries and meal sites in Dallas County, Iowa. Dallas County Public Health coordinates this effort.	Link
Johnson	Johnson County Hunger Taskforce is a coalition of local governments and nonprofit service providers dedicated to alleviating hunger through research, collaboration and targeted action.	Link
Madison	Madison County Cares is a network of health and human services providers that holds monthly information-sharing and networking meetings.	Link
Polk	Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County is a public-private collaboration to ensure all residents have access to needed food. The Partnership is led by the Polk County Board of Supervisors.	Link
Scott	Quad Cities Food Rescue Partnership is a community-focused coalition committed to rescuing food throughout the Quad Cities that would otherwise be thrown away, by informing and engaging the public and by fostering partnerships among food establishments, the Foodbank, food pantries, meal sites, and shelters.	Link
Story	Story County Food Pantry Collaboration engages representatives from area food to educate staff and volunteers, coordinate efforts, and share best practices. United Way of Story County provides a forum for these quarterly conversations.	Link
Story	Story County Hunger Collaboration addresses the root causes of hunger to improve access to healthy food in Story County. United Way of Story County provides a forum for these conversations.	Link
Wapello	Growing Wapello Together is a collaborative initiative focused on increasing access to fresh and healthy food and reducing food insecurity in Wapello County.	Link

Please email Madeline at mgoebel@worldfoodprize.org if there are collaborations we’re missing and we’ll add them to the quick guide.

Types of Collaborative Hunger Initiatives

At first glance, there seem to be two stable configurations when organizations rally together to address hunger: Hunger Networks and Hunger Coalitions.

Type of Initiative	Primary Function	Common Outputs	Typical Inputs
Hunger Network	1. Know who is addressing hunger in a community 2. Know how to contact them 3. Have a general idea of what everyone is doing	Directories Educational materials Collaborating on one or two easy activities or events	Meetings: full group typically meets monthly or quarterly Personnel: one to three individuals who serve as conveners that schedule meetings and send minutes and updates out to the group
Hunger Coalition	1. Agree on common goals 2. Pool resources 3. Align activities	Strategy documents Methods of sharing data Ways to easure success Collaboration on two or three difficult activities at a time	Meetings: full group meets monthly or quarterly Subcommittees meet more frequently to share information and move projects forward Personnel: one or two individuals who serve as organizers that convene meetings, delegate responsibilities and track progress, and handle communications and funds Anchor Organization: funds the organizer's work and provides office space and materials

Type of Initiative

Primary Function

Common Outputs

Typical Inputs

Hunger Network

1. Know who is addressing hunger in a community

2. Know how to contact them

3. Have a general idea of what everyone is doing

Directories

Educational materials

Collaborating on one or two easy activities or events

Meetings: full group typically meets monthly or quarterly

Personnel: one to three individuals who serve as conveners that schedule meetings and send minutes and updates out to the group

Hunger Coalition

1. Agree on common goals

2. Pool resources

3. Align activities

Strategy documents

Methods of sharing data

Ways to easure success

Collaboration on two or three difficult activities at a time

Meetings: full group meets monthly or quarterly

Subcommittees meet more frequently to share information and move projects forward

Personnel: one or two individuals who serve as organizers that convene meetings, delegate responsibilities and track progress, and handle communications and funds

Anchor Organization: funds the organizer's work and provides office space and materials

Does the classification make sense? Are there other stable ways to structure a collaborative hunger initiative? Email Madeline at mgoebel@worldfoodprize.org with your feedback!

Search the Iowa Hunger Directory to find organizations near you!