Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is expanding its annual food assistance challenge this October and giving the effort a new name to reflect its broader purpose.
Previously known as the “Food Pantry Challenge”, the campaign will now be called the Hamilton County Food for Neighbors Challenge.
The change expands the challenge beyond traditional food pantries to include additional ways Hamilton County residents access food, including Meals on Wheels, Congregate Meals and the developing Southern Hamilton County Meal Program.
The challenge will run October 1 through October 31, 2026, with the first $20,000 donated matched 100% dollar-for-dollar.
Donors May Choose Where Their Gift Goes
Donors may support one or more of seven participating food access efforts:
- Webster City: Upper Des Moines Opportunity Food Pantry; Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry; St. Paul Lutheran Church Food Pantry; Webster City Meals on Wheels / Webster City Congregate Meals
- Jewell: Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry
- Stratford: Stratford Food Pantry
- Southern Hamilton County: Southern Hamilton County Meal Program
Donors may select one program, several programs or make a general gift to support all seven. Gifts designated to multiple programs will be divided equally among those selected. Gifts received without a designation will be divided equally among all seven participating efforts.
Funds designated to Webster City Meals on Wheels / Webster City Congregate Meals will be divided equally between the two programs.
Expanding Food Access
The addition of prepared-meal programs reflects the Foundation’s broader view of what food access can mean.
The developing Southern Hamilton County Meal Program is being designed to provide home-delivered prepared meals to residents in the southern half of Hamilton County based on need rather than age.As part of the current planning process, the program is also reviewing the potential for community meal options in interested communities.
Participants will contribute what they are reasonably able to pay, with charitable contributions and grant funding helping to cover the remaining cost when assistance is needed.
Additional details about the Southern Hamilton County Meal Program will be announced in the next few weeks as program details are finalized.
$20,000 Matching Opportunity
The first $20,000 donated during the October challenge will be matched dollar-for-dollar while matching funds remain available.
This year’s match has been made possible through remaining food pantry funds from All Cultures Equalfollowing its closure, an anonymous donor, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation and the JDT Charitable Trust.
How to Give
Donations may be made online at:
www.desmoinesfoundation.org/HamiltonPassthrough
When donating online, donors are asked to indicate in the comment section before submitting their gift which food pantry and/or meal program they would like to support. If no designation is provided, the gift will be divided equally among all seven participating food access efforts.
Checks may be made payable to Enhance Hamilton County Foundation and mailed to or dropped off at:
Enhance Hamilton County Foundation
501 Bank Street
Webster City, IA 50595
Donors should write the name of the food pantry and/or meal program they wish to support in the memo line. If no designation is provided, the gift will be divided equally among all seven participating food access efforts.
The Hamilton County Food for Neighbors Challenge runs October 1 – 31, 2026, with the first $20,000 donated eligible for the dollar-for-dollar match.