Feeding Families, Caring for Community: Invest in Bidwell Pantry
At Families Forward, we believe every family deserves a healthy meal. Unfortunately, hunger is closer than you think. In Polk County, about 1 in 6 children lives in a food-insecure household.
As changes to federal nutrition programs and food costs loom, even more families are at risk of going without. The Bidwell Pantry ensures every neighbor has access to food, clothing, and basic necessities. As the highest-serving food pantry in the state of Iowa, we rely on individuals, businesses, and volunteers to keep our shelves stocked. Thank you for your consideration. With sponsorship opportunities starting at $50 per month there is an opportunity for everyone to join us.
Thank you for your support!
Community Cornerstone
$25,000 annually ($2100 per month)
The Need: As the most utilized food pantry in the state, we are responding to unprecedented demand. In 2024 alone, we served more than 81,000 individuals providing food, 250,000+ pieces of clothing, and tens of thousands of hygiene items. To continue to meet this level of need, we need visionary partners who believe in our work.
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Your Impact: As a Community Cornerstone, you are fueling the future of community care. Your transformational support allows us to expand our reach, innovate our services, and ensure no Iowan must choose between feeding their family and meeting other essential needs. Your sponsorship leads to lasting change.
Abundance Advocate
$10,000 annually ($833 per month)
The Need: Behind every family that visits the Bidwell Pantry is a story of hard choices: paying for prescription medication instead of groceries, choosing between rent and school supplies, or stretching a paycheck that simply doesn't cover rising costs. These families need more than just food—they need comprehensive support that addresses multiple pressing needs.
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Your Impact: As an Abundance Advocate, you provide the infrastructure that allows us to serve as more than just a food pantry. Your sponsorship supports our ability to maintain consistent inventory, provide wraparound services, and ensure that every family leaves with not just groceries, but also clothing, hygiene products, and the dignity that comes from knowing their community cares.
Neighborhood Nourisher
$5,000 Annually
The Need: Food insecurity rarely exists in isolation. Families who struggle to afford groceries are often also choosing between buying diapers and paying for utilities, or between school clothes and medical care. The Bidwell Pantry has evolved to meet these interconnected needs because we understand that true stability requires more than just meals.
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Your Impact: As a Neighborhood Nourisher, you help us address the full spectrum of family needs through our comprehensive approach. Your sponsorship ensures families receive not only nutritious food but also essential items like clean clothing for job interviews, diapers that allow parents to work without worry, and hygiene products that help children feel confident at school.
Daily Difference Maker
$1,000 annually
The Need: Every day, families in our community face the impossible choice between basic necessities. A single parent decides between buying groceries or school supplies. A working family stretches their budget and still comes up short. These daily struggles create stress that affects entire families, but they also represent opportunities for our community to show up with immediate, practical support.
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Your Impact: As a Daily Difference Maker, you provide consistent support that allows us to respond immediately when families need help. Your sponsorship ensures our shelves remain stocked with essentials, our doors stay open to neighbors in need, and families know that when crisis strikes, compassionate assistance is available without barriers or judgment.
Pantry Partners
$50 per month
The Need: We understand that household items are among the most essential—and most expensive—items for families. That’s why we always have these items onhand for the families at Bidwell Pantry.
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Your Impact: By contributing monthly, you help ensure families have consistent access to essential resources, allowing parents to focus their energy and finances on building stable, hopeful futures for their children.
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For more information about any of these opportunities, please contact Suzanne Zutter at suzanne@familiesforward.org.