There are so many moving parts that contribute to operations at Food Bank of Iowa. The first thing many people think of is food. And yes! To operate we need food to provide to the 175,000 hungry Iowans in our footprint. But, to distribute that food, it requires an efficient Distribution Center, Volunteer Center and staff support.

Walmart has and continues to be a generous partner across the board here at Food Bank of Iowa. We have 31 Walmart stores that donate across our 55 county service area. Since January 1, 2019 the combined Walmart stores have donated 1,253,920 pounds of food. This means that since January 1, 2019, Walmart has fed 335 families of 4, 3 meals a day. That is incredible! And in our 12+ year partnership with Walmart they have donated over 13.5 million pounds of food!

In order to distribute the food to our agency partners and families in need, we need to be able to re-package bulk food we receive and distribute that food in a food safe environment. Walmart has graciously donated 2 floor scrubbers to keep our Distribution Center shiny.

Walmart has donated cardboard boxes for us to package our food and plastic shopping bags for our volunteers to pack backpacks for our school pantry partners. It has also donated a cardboard baler and baler ties for us to help with all of the cardboard that comes in to our warehouse as food packaging.

It takes so many partnerships to help us operate here at the Food Bank, and we are so grateful to Walmart for their invaluable partnership and providing support in so many different ways!