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Food and Nonfood Donations

MAKE A DONATION - CHANGE A LIFE

We operate food pantries in Waverly (Bremer), Cresco (Howard), and Decorah (Winneshiek) in our service area. Our Partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank allows us to source food at a considerably lower cost than purchasing from a local store. For this reason, monetary donations are a great way to support our food pantry operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you accept donated food?

Yes, please call ahead, email [email protected], or chat online with an NEICAC Team Member to schedule a time to drop off donations. Linked below is a helpful guide for knowing what items we can accept. Donations of goods will be evaluated for suitability prior to acceptance.
Check out this helpful guide for further information on donation acceptance.

What items are of greatest need?

Food Items

Crackers

Canned Fruit

Canned Vegetables

Canned Soup

Cereal (adult and child friendly)

Macaroni and Cheese

Taco Shells

Taco Seasoning Mix

Canned Tuna

Canned Chicken

Canned Sloppy Joe Sauce

Ravioli/SpaghettiOs

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Skillet Dinners (Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper)

Spaghetti Sauce (cans or plastic preferred)

Pizza Sauce (cans or plastic preferred)

Pizza crust mix

Granola Bars

Pasta, all varieties

Pancake Mix

Syrup

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Ketchup

Sugar

Vegetable Oil

Butter

Eggs

Frozen Meat (Hamburger is the most requested!)

Frozen Pizza

Frozen Burritos

Frozen Pot Pies

Chicken Nuggets/Breast Patties

Nonfood Items

Can openers

Toilet Paper

Diapers (Size 4, 5, 6)

Pull-Ups

Kleenex

Paper Towels

Dish Soap

Laundry Soap

How else can I support an NEICAC Food Pantry?

Host a Donation Drive

A food or nonfood supply drive increases awareness and provides an opportunity to help decrease food insecurity and ensure households have access to essential nonfood items. You can set up a donation drive at your school, work, church, or within any organization or setting. Set a goal, make it a competition, and have some fun while making a meaningful impact. Connect with us by emailing [email protected] and we’ll let you know what items are of greatest need in advance of your donation drive.

Check or money order donations can be mailed to NEICAC PO Box 487 Decorah, IA 52101. If possible, please include the donation form linked below.
DOWNLOAD DONATION FORM

Tributes & Memorials

Honoring or memorializing a loved one through a donation to NEICAC is a meaningful way to pay tribute to someone special by helping those in need.

Planned Giving through Estate Donations

Choose to include NEICAC in your estate plans and continue helping neighbors in need long into the future. Your estate doesn’t have to be large to make a difference.

Common forms of planned giving include:

  • Bequests in a will
  • Charitable trusts
  • Gifts of life insurance
  • Retirement assets
  • Property

For more information on how you can make a lasting impact, please contact Nichole Griese at [email protected] or 563-419-8243. 

MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION

Agency Appreciations

“Thank you for your fabulous work with the Decorah community & surrounding areas. All of you truly embody the spirit of hope & change people’s lives to not only help themselves but to encourage & help those around them. At a time when our country needs love & compassion, you & your staff deserve a well-deserved BRAVO.”

Rachel Buresh

KD Rae Jewelry

MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION

Embrace Iowa

“Embrace Iowa helped our family be getting us a stove. The stove we had was hazardous. When we would cook on it, it would stink the whole house up. Also, it leaked underneath the stove. That stove was so small that my two year old son could see inside the pan without standing on anything. Now, with our new stove we can cook without smelling anything or without cleaning up a leaky mess. Thanks so much for our new stove. We really appreciated it.”

Fayette County Resident

MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION

Dynamic Partnerships

“St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School have been pleased to be working with NEICAC. They have been a wonderful partner and resource for those individuals and families in our communities who are in need of support and assistance. We have been able to assist this organization with money for utilities, shelter, transportation, food, and other help. They also provide for emergency medical and dental services as well as mental health services for those who do not have the means to access those services on their own. St Paul’s considers the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corportation to be a vital part of our community.”

Ron Zell - Director or Administration, St. Paul's Lutheran Church & School

MESSAGES OF APPRECIATION

EARL Public Transit

“The reason I choose EARL is that the Drivers are Nice and that I want to Ride the transit because I like to see new faces every time I ride. They help me get around to where I need to go. I get along with the Transit Drivers and the passengers.”

NEICAC EARL Public Transit Rider