The City of Iowa City is holding a food drive on Friday to support CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank. Donations to Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive will be collected between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Fareway off Mormon Trek Boulevard (2530 Westwinds Dr), the North Dodge Hy-Vee (1125 N Dodge St) and the […]
CommUnity Crisis Center and Food Bank
Posted inCommunity/News
A creative can-struction fundraiser in Coralville helps CommUnity fight food insecurity
There have been shelves of canned foods in grocery stores as long as there have been grocery stores. But as useful as they are in preserving food and inspiring Andy Warhol prints, cans are seldom seen as material for art. On Saturday at the Coral Ridge Mall, architects will unlock some of canned food’s artistic potential, […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
CommUnity launches campaign to help its food bank meet increased summer demand
As food banks across Iowa see demands for their services increase over summer, CommUnity Crisis Services is holding a “Strike Out Hunger” fundraiser to make sure its food bank is able to meet those needs in Johnson County. The annual summer school break is always a challenge for food banks, as kids who receive lunch […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Food banks will need community support as needs increase during summer
By David Leshtz, Iowa City With kids out of school, food needs always increase in the summer. Demands on local food banks will escalate even more this year, due to a shortage of state funds allocated for food assistance. Gov. Reynolds opted out of $29 million in federal assistance for low-income children this summer. If you care […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Best of the CRANDIC: CommUnity CEO Sarah Nelson on how the 988 lifeline ‘changed everything’
Sarah Nelson is a graduate of Iowa City West High and the University of Iowa. She led Foundation 2 in Cedar Rapids before taking over as CommUnity Crisis Services’ CEO in 2021, and can now say she’s overseen the only two National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) centers in the state. At CommUnity — winner of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Project Holiday returns for 35th year of home-cooked meals, with fewer barriers for families in need
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank’s Project Holiday has helped families experiencing food insecurity enjoy a home-cooked holiday meal for 35 years. It provided traditional entrees and sides to almost 1,500 families last year, and this year has eliminated the need to register in advance to receive a meal in order to reach as many […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Project Holiday is providing 1,500 families in Johnson County with holiday meals
Around 1,500 families will enjoy a home-cooked holiday meal this year thanks to CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank’s 34th annual Project Holiday. Families can receive their choice of entrée, sides, vegetables and other grocery items through this Saturday, Dec. 18, at Pepperwood Plaza, 1045 Hwy 6 East, during regular food bank hours. Shari Ellis […]
Posted inCommunity/News
CommUnity’s annual fundraising banquet for its food bank goes virtual
The COVID-19 pandemic strained the resources of food banks across Iowa, revealing the high level of food insecurity in the state. It has also changed how CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank will hold its annual Hunger Banquet. The banquet, which is a major source of funding for the Iowa City-based nonprofit’s food bank each […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘We need to do better’: Iowa City Council holds listening post to discuss mental health and police reform
The Iowa City Council held the first of six scheduled listening posts to get public input regarding community policing reforms at Mercer Park on Wednesday evening. Approximately 50 community members attended the event, which focused on how situations involving mental health, crisis intervention and addiction should be handled. As part of the resolution passed on […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘How do I manage my anxiety about this?’: Needed now more than ever, crisis and community orgs adapt to social distancing
While the immediate concern amid the COVID-19 pandemic is physical health, social distancing has wide-stretching impacts on mental health, employment and other resources. Due to social distancing guidelines, local service organizations have had to adjust the way they serve the community during the pandemic. CommUnity In the case of CommUnity Crisis Services, all volunteers are […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Coronavirus tests CommUnity’s crisis services in an already difficult season for nonprofits
In the 50 years since it was founded, CommUnity Crisis Services and Foodbank has never faced a challenge like the COVID-19 pandemic. But the challenges it has faced in the past, and still does on a daily basis, have helped it prepare for the major disruptions COVID-19 will likely bring. The flood of 2008 forced […]
