Food pantries, Sprout Garden, neighborhood grocery stores, and more
Food pantries, Sprout Garden, neighborhood grocery stores, and more
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CEL Office Student Newsletter Special Edition 

All about Free & Cheap Campus and Neighborhood Food Resources

Welcome (or welcome back), Bulldogs! The start of a new school year is an exciting time, but it’s not without its stressors. If finding and affording healthy food is on your worry list, you are not alone! This newsletter is all about free and low-cost food resources on campus and in the neighborhood. Whether you are experiencing food insecurity, as 25% of households in Des Moines did last year, or you're seeking alternatives to dining out and convenience foods when Hubbell is closed, these resources are for you. And check out this Drake Food Resource Google Map to find everything discussed in this issue.   

Free Resources on Campus and Nearby

Little Free Pantries: There are two Little Free Pantries (like the blue one pictured above) placed on our campus with Drake students and employees in mind: one in the Olmsted parking lot and the other between the Sprout Garden and Haiki on Carpenter & 30th Street. Drake has additional pantries throughout Dogtown that are supplied and utilized primarily by community members – but all operate on the same principal: ANYONE can leave food, and EVERYONE is welcome to take what they can use. So if you see something you’d like, please do your part to reduce food waste and take it. Your wallet and the planet will thank you! 

Sprout Learning Garden: Looking for fresh produce to snack on or prepare at home? Sprout welcomes new volunteers to the garden (located at 30th & Carpenter) during Open Hours (Mondays 12:30-2:30pm & Tuesdays 3:30-5pm). Everyone is welcome to come by and harvest produce. No work is required in order to take home food, but our student coordinator would love to show you around and help you get involved if you’re interested in gardening. Email sprout@drake.edu with questions, sign up to help on DUGood, or just show up! Sprout is open until the first freeze – typically the first week in November. 
Monday Produce Giveaways: Sprout volunteers will be giving away produce outside Cowles Library on Mondays from 2:30-4:30pm until November 3. Walk down Painted Street in front of Cowles, and look for us at one of the picnic tables. This effort relies on volunteers. Register to help with harvesting or distribution on DUGood. Email sprout@drake.edu with questions.

IMPACT CAP Drake Neighborhood Pantry: This pantry (pictured above) is part of the DMARC/Food Bank of Iowa network and is well supplied with fresh and packaged food. Friendly staff and volunteers will make your visit feel a lot like grocery shopping. No income information is collected - just bring your student ID or another form of identification to your first visit, and you will be able to choose a 3-day supply of foods that suit your diet and preferences once every 30 days. In between, you can stop in for “Anytime Items” or visit other pantries in or outside of the DMARC pantry network. IMPACT is located about a block west of campus at 3226 University. Entrance in back.Open Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Interested in volunteering at IMPACT? Contact kira.schall@drake.edu. 

Other Resources: Depending upon your income, household composition, and other factors, you may qualify for federal or state assistance programs to afford food, healthcare, housing, and other essentials. The Iowa Health & Human Services website has information about a variety programs, some of which you can apply for online. Get started at https://hhs.iowa.gov/. Drake also maintains a list of basic needs resources spanning food, health, and transportation here.  

Lower Cost Options for Stocking the Mini-Fridge

The Drake Neighborhood is home to some small ethnic grocery stores, and our campus is a short bus or bike ride away from larger chains. So while many Dogtown restaurants are open late and accept Bulldog Bucks, healthy and affordable alternatives are also within reach. Find these stores and more on this Drake Food Resource Google Map.






Walking Distance:
Hilal Groceries:1163 25th St (pictured above) 

Sultan Hilal Meat & Grocery: 2105 Forest Ave 

Alla Amin African Grocery: 2125 Forest Ave  

DART, Bike, or Drive:
Hy-Vee Drug at 4100 University (about 1 mile west of campus) 

Price Chopper at 3425 Ingersoll (a little over a 1 mile southwest of campus) 

C-Fresh Market at 801 University (1.5 miles east of campus) 
Drake University | Community Engaged Learning & Service 2507 University Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50311
T 515-271-2454    W www.drake.edu/cel
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