LINC | United Way of Central Iowa

Good deeds. Good times. Good friends.

Join others just like you and donate your dollars and time to help feed the hungry, house the homeless and fight for the most vulnerable central Iowans.

United Way LINC offers monthly volunteer opportunities and bi-annual professional development events with happy hours afterward for drinks, fun, and social connections.

Most importantly, you'll know that your annual pledge of $250 or more is invested directly in the Essential Needs (such as food and housing) of struggling central Iowans.

Why LINC Matters

All LINC dollars go to fund investments in Essential Needs, such as food and shelter. Without these needs being met, children cannot learn in school, families cannot be financially stable, and individuals cannot enjoy health and well-being.

There are 108,000 food-insecure and 4,000 homeless central Iowans.

86% of households earning less than $15,000 annually live in housing they cannot afford (paying more than 30% of their income).

8,350 affordable units are needed in central Iowa to meet current housing needs.

Homeless children are 2x more likely to have a learning disability, repeat a grade, or be suspended from school.

Nearly 30% of Polk County households were food insecure at some time during 2017.

Low-income students are 4x more likely to be chronically absent, often for reasons beyond their control, including unstable housing, unreliable transportation, or a lack of health care.

What's Working

115 fewer individuals were homeless in Polk County in 2017 than the year before.

104,475 meals and food items were served or distributed to individuals/families through United Way- and LINC-supported pantries and shelter services.

2,842 people accessed United Way- and LINC-funded services for homelessness.