DMACC Receives $25,000 Grant from Prairie Meadows to Support Food Pantries at Polk County Campuses

DMACC has received $25,000 from Prairie Meadows to help address food insecurity among students attending our Polk County locations (Ankeny, Southridge, Urban, and West).

Food insecurity, a growing challenge for college students nationwide, is linked to lower academic performance, increased absenteeism, reduced retention, and lower graduation rates.

Many DMACC students rely on campus food pantries for daily meals and household food support. The pantries currently serve an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 students annually and play an important role in helping students remain focused on their education and persist toward degree completion.

Grant funds are used to purchase healthy, non-perishable food items and essential supplies such as hygiene products, diapers, and household necessities.

Each location receives $5,000 to support the purchase of food and keep the pantries stocked.

The remaining $5,000 is allocated to the DMACC Foundation Alumni Association to support the purchase of holiday baskets for students around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

DMACC has received food pantry support from Prairie Meadows since 2019.