Strong Foundation
for Serving.
Food at First is Story County's largest hot meal and food pantry operation, serving neighbors with dignity for over two decades.
With generous community support, we will develop a dedicated facility at 409 SE 3rd Street in Ames. Less than a mile from our existing site, our new home will keep us in a familiar, accessible location and on a city bus route. The new facility will increase our square footage from approximately 7,200 to 13,868, greatly enhancing our capacity to serve the people of Ames and surrounding Story County.
Hunger Is Prevalent in our Community
1 in 3 Story County residents is food insecure. Income instability, housing insecurity, and food insecurity are the three most urgent conditions threatening our neighbors' health and futures.
This is expected to increase due to the end of Child Tax Credits, increases in job layoffs, and growing grocery and energy costs.
One in three Story County residents worried about paying their rent or mortgage in the last year. The persistent, low housing vacancy rate in Ames drives up rents of available units.
The situation is likely to get worse. Story County's population is growing, costs have exploded, and recent SNAP changes — the most extensive in U.S. history — mean fewer families will qualify for government assistance while more families will need it.
Food at First Addressing Food Insecurity
Rescue & Supply: A food recovery & partner supply program
We collaborate with retail partners to divert edible food from the landfill, accept in-kind food donations from the community, and share surplus with other non-profits.
First Helpings: A congregate meal program
Cooking fresh meals every day for anyone, no questions asked, we offer consistent, healthy meals in a welcoming group environment that reduces social isolation.
Free Market: A food pantry program
Filling cupboards to close the grocery gap for working families. We provide access to free, healthy groceries in a market-style setting with the dignity of choice.
Kindness Services: A wrap-around support program
We share abundance, including offering daytime shelter for up to 8.5 hours. We also connect people to non-food resources through benevolence funding and referrals to community partners.
Connections: An engagement & education program
We educate Iowans about food insecurity through presentations, facility tours, and meaningful volunteer opportunities, engaging the community in becoming part of the solution to hunger.
Current Impact Data
Each Day:
100 guests served fresh meals
Each Week:
17,500 meals stocked in family cupboards
Each Month:
$115,000 in staffing offset by volunteers
Each Year:
$5.8 million in food costs saved for neighbors
Current Conditions:
We've Outgrown Our Space
For 10 years, Food at First has operated in the basement of First Christian Church — a space designed for coffee and fellowship, not for a hot meal and food rescue operation of our size.
Improvised Storage
Volunteers have moved millions of pounds of food by hand in a space never built for it.
Over-utilized, Under-equipped Kitchen
Kitchen size and equipment no longer support the volume of cooking needed to meet the need.
At Full Capacity
Guests have filled every seat and space has been stretched and optimized to its limit.
Strong Foundation for Serving
Food at First envisions a community where no one goes hungry, every person is treated with dignity and care, and surplus food is never wasted.
- Largest coordinated food rescue operation in the region
- Largest food pantry in Story County
A Purpose-Built Home
409 SE 3rd Street, Ames
Less than a mile from our existing site — familiar, accessible, on a bus route and near other service providers.
A modest, purpose-built facility will expand our capacity for impact and enhance our existing work.
13,868 SQ FT
Nearly double the space
Food storage capacity
Food rescue and donations
Fresh meals served daily
Households served in Market
Improved Functionality and Efficiency
A layout designed to serve the needs
The new building will include a larger, industrial kitchen with robust appliances sized to the demands.
The Food Market and storage spaces will provide greater capacity, improve organization and stock rotation, and enable guests to more easily select foods for themselves.
The larger dining area will provide a safer, less-crowded space for dining and queueing for the Food Market.
Join Our Capital Campaign
This is the first capital campaign in Food at First's history — and we are inviting you to be part of it. With your support, we will build a facility designed for the work as it exists today and for the growing needs ahead.
Help us help others by making your gift today!
Write a Check
Payable to Food at First
PO Box 87, Ames,
Iowa 50010
Get in Touch
Contact Executive Director Patty Yoder at patty.foodatfirst@gmail.com
Use a Credit Card
Visit www.foodatfirst.com/donate to donate online
Gift Securities
Contact Patty Yoder at patty.foodatfirst@gmail.com