Meals from the Heartland

At Meals from the Heartland, our mission is simple but powerful: to empower people to save lives by fighting hunger.

We believe that everyone has a role to play in ending food insecurity - whether by volunteering their time, supporting our efforts, or spreading awareness. Guided by faith and compassion, we come together as a community to package nutritious meals that bring hope to children and families both here in Iowa and around the world.

Meals from the Heartland is committed to alleviating life-threatening hunger through education, engagement, and feeding.

Education involves providing information and resources about global hunger and the role each person can play in addressing it.

Engagement offers year-round volunteer opportunities to serve and help those in need.

Feeding is achieved through partnerships with meal distribution organizations to ensure that nutritious meals reach hungry individuals both in Iowa and around the world.

By collaborating with schools, churches, businesses, and community groups, Meals from the Heartland organizes meal packaging events year-round, producing specially formulated meals developed by nutrition professionals to meet the needs of malnourished populations.

In 2024 alone, the organization distributed over 18 million meals - 952,128 in Iowa, 1.5 million across the U.S., and more than 16 million globally. Our deep commitment to fighting hunger is further reflected in their educational outreach and strategic partnerships that ensure meals reach those who need them most. 

Packagers in groups that are in Grades 4-8 should be accompanied by 1 Adult to every 5 Students. High School students should be accompanied by 1 Adult to every 9 Students.