Empowering People to Save Starving Children by Fighting Hunger Since 2008

The inspiration for Meals from the Heartland began with a 2007 food packaging event held during Lent by a church in West Des Moines, Iowa. The success of that event encouraged leaders to organize a community-wide food packaging event that would involve more volunteers to feed hungry children and families. It was that leap of faith that brought Meals from the Heartland to Des Moines in 2008, resulting in 12,000 volunteers who packaged more than 4 million meals in a week’s time at our first Annual Hunger Fight. These events have been held all across Iowa and the midwest, and we are looking to expand our reach across the heartland. We have a fleet of trucks and the staff to go just about anywhere.

MILLION meals packaged since 2008 because people like you showed up

More about Meals from the Heartland

We are a faith-based nonprofit organization that believes in the importance of hope, volunteer service and financial giving to help save starving children. We are made up of volunteers from businesses, schools, churches, community organizations and beyond who package meals for delivery to malnourished people in Iowa, across the United States and around the world.

Package Meals

Join us at our Patty Cownie Packaging Center

Meal Packaging: Join us at the Patty Cownie Packaging Center to package meals. Shifts are two hours each, Tuesday through Saturday. First-come, first-served availability. Sign up individually or with others.

Host A Hunger Fight

We can bring the hunger fight to your school, business, or church

We bring the Hunger Fight event to you and provide all ingredients and packaging materials. You provide the volunteers and funding.

Fund Meal Ingredients

Any amount is appreciated in helping to feed a child in need

Each of our awesome volunteers uses about $150 worth of ingredients and materials to pack about 540 meals per shift. Ingredients are not donated to Meals from the Heartland. We will package and share as many meals as our generous donors fund!