Des Moines City And CISS Provided 53,102 Free Meals During Summer Of Coronavirus

Press release from the City of Des Moines:

October 8, 2020

DES MOINES, IOWA – Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 – The City of Des Moines, Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) and local restaurants and caterers provided 53,102 free meals this summer to families and residents in need of assistance during the community spread of COVID-19. Starting in May and continuing into mid-September, 14 restaurant, caterers and food trucks collaborated on the COVID meal initiative at 14 distribution sites in neighborhoods through Des Moines’ four wards.

“This program helped Des Moines in two ways – we got meals to those who needed them while providing some vital business to those restaurants and food vendors significantly hit financially this summer by the pandemic,” said Mayor Frank Cownie. “That’s what we do in our community during tough times, we help each other.”

The participating restaurants were paid for each meal from $481,807 in COVID-19 relief funds provided by the City and administered by CISS.

The food vendors included The Big Red Truck Catering, Bubble Teakups, Chuck’s Restaurant, Con Amor Catering, El Fogon, Five Spice Sisters, Hy-Vee, Kitchen Spaces, Mac’D, Mootsie’s Munchies, Mr. Bibbs, Palm’s Caribbean Cuisine, Prep Kings and Tursi’s Latin King.

“Unfortunately, we have too many people who must pick between putting food on the table and paying rent, but working with the City and local restaurant owners, we were able to expand our services and provide this much-needed assistance during a most difficult time,” said Melissa O’Neil, CEO of CISS.BY THE NUMBERS

Meals Served

53,102

Days Served

66

Restaurants Participating

14

Meal Sites

14

City’s Investment

$481,807

About Central Iowa Shelter & Services

Since 1992, Central Iowa Shelter & Services’ mission is to provide low-barrier shelter, meals and support services at no cost to adults experiencing homelessness and to facilitate their move toward self-sufficiency. Approximately 2,000 women and men experiencing homelessness have received emergency shelter and supportive services to help them move beyond homelessness each year. For more information, go to centraliowashelter.org.

This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author’s own.