Help fill the cupboard!

Food insecurity is at a record high in our community:

  • More than a third of Story County K-12 students suffer from food insecurity – a record high.
  • Even in our university community, as many as one in three students are classified as food insecure.

Local food pantries are finding it more and more difficult to keep their shelves stocked. But we can help … by participating in the 2025 United Way of Story County LIVE UNITED Food Drive.

What, When, and Where

WHAT: Non-perishable food and non-food items 

WHEN: April 28, 2025 to May 8, 2025

WHERE: Collection sites and drop-off locations around campus 

Office Collection Locations

  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Ivy College of Business
  • College of Health and Human Sciences, Welcome Center, 118 MacKay
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (you can also drop off pet food!)
  • Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
  • Department of Kinesiology
  • Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • Department of Residence – ALL residence halls!
  • Facilities Planning and Management, General Services Building
  • Iowa State University Foundation
  • Iowa State University Research Park, Economic Development Core Facility
  • Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, 1550 Beardshear Hall
  • U.S. Department of Energy Ames National Lab (no public access)

Don’t like to shop? No problem! 

  • You can make a donation to United Way of Story County and direct it toward the food drive.
  • Venmo: Use this QR code to donate, making sure to put “Food Drive” in the memo as well.     

Don’t want to lug your items from car to office? Drop them off!

You can drop off donations directly from your vehicle on May 5-6, from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM, at these locations:

Monday, May 5

  • Communications Building (east side)
  • State Gym (south side, in parking lot)
  • Parking Lot 50A (west of Forker)

Tuesday, May 6

  • College of Design (parking lot behind building)
  • Memorial Union (west side drive)
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (entrance to Parking Lot 93)

Special thanks to Logistics and Support Services for their support in serving you!

The most common items needed to benefit your neighbors:

  • Food items: canned fruit, cereal, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned beans or meat, rice, cooking/baking supplies, instant potatoes, dried milk
  • Non-food items: diapers (especially larger sizes), baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, facial tissue, napkins, soaps, laundry detergent

NOTE: Please do not donate bottled water or bulk-sized items (a 5-pound box of macaroni, for example) that cannot be easily portioned and distributed.