Northeast Iowa Food Bank

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank proudly provides food to 16 counties across northeast Iowa every day, working to ensure that every person has access to nutritious food and the dignity that comes with it.

We Champion People through our mission: to provide nutritious food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations and individuals, while offering hunger education programs to the area and those in need. We are committed to building stronger, more compassionate communities and ensuring no one goes hungry.

Today, more than 45,000 people in northeast Iowa face food insecurity, which is 5,000 more than just one year ago and over 15,000 more than two years ago. Hunger can happen to anyone. We are all just one accident, illness, or unexpected setback away from needing help. Although our facility is physically located in Waterloo, our reach extends far beyond city limits. Many of our trucks travel over two hours one way several days a week to deliver food to the 127 partner agencies we serve across northeast Iowa. Last year, NEIFB distributed more than 8.64 million meals, supported thousands across our service area, and engaged nearly 11,000 volunteers who contributed more than 35,500 hours to our mission.

Our work takes many forms through eight core programs that meet people where they are.

From distributing groceries to partner agencies and providing weekend meals for children through the BackPack Program, to serving families through the Cedar Valley Food Pantry and Kids Café, NEIFB ensures nourishment reaches every corner of our region.

We deliver groceries to seniors through the Senior Nutrition Program, bring food directly to communities through Mobile Food Pantries, and partner with schools to create welcoming School Markets that reduce stigma and increase access. Through the Summer Feeding Program and our Community Garden, we make sure children and families have access to healthy meals year-round.

Together with our partners, donors, and volunteers, we are not just fighting hunger. We are building hope and standing firm in our belief that food is a basic human right.