Supporting food security and more in diverse communities
A culturally appropriate food pantry
Franklin Junior High in Des Moines, Iowa is a hub of activity on Wednesdays — even in the quiet summer months.
Knock and Drop Iowa, a nonprofit that works to bridge the gap in resources for the Latino community, is distributing food to hundreds of local residents — things like corn, poblano and jalapeno peppers, tortillas and much more.
But that’s just the beginning — down the hall there is a resume-building workshop, books for kids from the Des Moines Public Library and health screenings for glucose and blood pressure. Knock and Drop Iowa is more than just a food pantry — it’s an ecosystem of services for the Des Moines area.
According to America’s Health Rankings1, 8.9% of Iowans are food insecure. And while this is one of the lower rates in the nation, food insecurity is higher for Black and Hispanic households.
Zuli Garcia, founder of Knock and Drop Iowa, saw there were unmet needs with healthy food distribution when it came to the Latino community. A $20,000 UnitedHealthcare grant helps the organization provide culturally specific, fresh produce to help further their mission.
The nonprofit began in 2020 as a direct response to the pandemic that exacerbated food insecurity for many communities. At the time, Zuli was working full time for the Des Moines Police Department and said they received many calls about difficulties putting food on the table.
After calling food pantries in the area herself, she found many did not have culturally specific foods – rather, they were often canned or prepared foods that families were not used to eating at home. What’s more, the language barrier for many often made it difficult for them to receive needed services.
“A food pantry should be an uplift and not a put-me-down,” Zuli said.
In the ensuing years, Knock and Drop has continued to grow – having fed over 13,700 children between July 2022 and January 2023.
According to Zuli, they serve anywhere from 250-300 families on any given Wednesday with their food pantry, and events where they serve hot meals can draw up to 600 families.
Knock and Drop also does outreach to rural families in the area, and delivers to those who cannot reach their location.
The support from organizations like UnitedHealthcare have been critical to help Knock and Drop continue serving the community.
“Without the support from each of our partners that we have out there, none of this would be possible,” Zuli said. “You see that we have those partnerships, but we still have to purchase things. We still have to buy things and just fresh produce alone can cost $5,000 a month.”
Knock and Drop is about much more than food. They aim to be a hub for well-being for the community in Des Moines. Rethinking what is possible with a food pantry – through the lens of health equity – is a key part of their mission.
“I really want others all over the United States to understand that is how you should run a food pantry, is thinking about everyone else, thinking outside the box,” Zuli said. “And that's what we want Knock and Drop to be known for, is that we think outside the box. We don't think that the traditional food is all we should have. We say, ‘You know what? Let's consider what else do we need to add to be able to help others.’”
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