Iowa State will participate in the United Way of Story County's annual "Live United" food drive April 28-May 8. Donations collected during those 11 days will go to participants in United Way's Story County Food Pantry Collaboration, which includes food pantries and food distribution programs. The SHOP student pantry, 1306 Beyer, is a member of the collaboration.
Provost Jason Keith and vice president for human resources Kristi Darr are leading the university's participation in the county-wide food drive.
"Addressing food insecurity and other community challenges served by United Way of Story County is a priority for any university leader, and we are proud to help represent Iowa State in this effort,” Keith said.
Live United food drive: Requested items*
|
Food items |
Non-food items |
|
Canned beans, fruit and meat |
Diapers, especially large sizes |
|
Peanut butter |
Baby wipes |
|
Pasta sauce |
Paper towels, napkins |
|
Breakfast cereal |
Toilet paper, facial tissues |
|
Rice |
Laundry detergent |
|
Instant items (ex., potatoes, milk) |
Dish soap |
|
Cooking/baking supplies (ex., oil, spices, mixes) |
Bar and hand soap |
*Please don't donate: Bottled water, items in bulk-size packages
Drive up, drop off
New this spring is a morning drive-up-and-drop-off option for nonperishable donations. With assistance from ISU logistics and support services staff and other volunteers, employees can pass their donation through the car window or pop the trunk lid and staff will retrieve donations. This option will be available two days during the morning commute:
Monday, May 5 (7-8:30 a.m.)
- Communications Building (east side)
- State Gym (south side)
- Forker Building (west side, near parking lot 50A entrance)
Tuesday, May 6 (7-8:30 a.m.)
- College of Design (west side)
- Memorial Union (west circle drive)
- College of Veterinary Medicine (near parking lot 93 entrance)
For the food drive's duration, faculty, staff and students may leave donations at any of several dozen voluntary indoor drop-off sites:
- ISU Foundation center, 2505 University Blvd.
- ISU Research Park, Economic Development Core Facility
- Ames National Laboratory, G40 TASF
- Office of the senior vice president and provost, 1550 Beardshear
- Facilities planning and management, inside the front (west) door of General Services Building
- Physics and astronomy, 12 Physics
- Kinesiology, 234 Forker
- Civil, construction and environmental engineering, 394 Town Engineering
- Electrical and computer engineering, 1212 Coover
- Athletics, Jacobson Building
- College of Health and Human Sciences, 118 MacKay
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 138 Curtiss
- College of Business, 1200 Gerdin
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, second floor lobby, Catt Hall
- College of Veterinary Medicine (welcomes pet food donations) Fish Tank Lobby, Patterson Hall; Small Animal Hospital; public drop-off option: college front desk (inside south flagpole entrance)
- University Community Child Care, 2623 Bruner Dr.
- Bright Horizons Child Care, College of Veterinary Medicine
- All residence halls
On the final day of the spring drive, Thursday, May 8 (5-7 p.m., 619 Burnett Ave.), join the We Will Collective at the downtown Ames Fareway store for a meet-and-greet with Iowa State student athletes. Bring a pantry item or cash donation to get a photo with or autograph from a Cyclone student athlete while supporting the food drive.
Cash gifts are welcome, too
Pantries also appreciate cash gifts, which are used to purchase meat, milk, eggs and other perishable foods for their inventories. There are several options for giving:
- Venmo: @unitedwaystoryco
- Online with a credit card: Click on the orange "donate" button; under "Association with a special project," select "Live United food drive"
- Cash or checks (with "2025 food drive" in the memo line) may be taken to any donation location or the United Way of Story County office, 315 Clark Ave.
