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 help our 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.

LINC Campaign Co-Chairs

Abby Delaney, Bankers Trust Abbi Gibson, ITA Group

LINC Steering Committee

Conor Boffeli, Bral Niedert

Brittany Bonnickson, Iowa Communications Alliance

Alacyn Cox, John Deere

Abby Delaney, Bankers Trust

Emily Foegen, Wells Fargo

Abbi Gibson, ITA Group

Nick Hodne, Principal

Allison Kilfoy, Ruan

Brandon Qualley, Ernst & Young

Braden Renaud, Bankers Trust

Travis Small, R&R Realty

Travis Vander Linden, Principal

Essential Needs Funding

Your donation to LINC benefits United Way's Essential Needs strategies, providing funding and support to programs that provide central Iowans with the most basic of needs, like shelter, food, clothing, and more. Without access to these essential needs, children cannot learn in school, families cannot achieve financial stability, and individuals cannot enjoy any level of health and well-being. View the Essential Needs programs that receive funding by clicking below:

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 63,050 food-insecure in central Iowa and 4,158 homeless in Polk county.

22.1% of households in central Iowa are housing cost-burdened (paying more than 30% of household income), and 8.8% are considered severe housing cost-burdened (paying more than 50% of household income).

80% of central Iowans earning less than $20,000 annually live in housing they cannot afford.

11,848 affordable homes are needed for central Iowans with low income.

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

32% of individuals in central Iowa struggle to meet basic needs.

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

281 individuals moved from homelessness to more stable housing in 2020.

305,599 meals and food items were served or distributed to individuals/families through United Way and LINC-supported pantries and shelter services in 2020.

3,670,300 lbs of food were donated through Food Rescue
41,031 lbs of food were donated to pantries from Corporate Giving/Community Gardens

3,000 people received United Way-funded legal assistance to help increase financial stability. Successes include:

1,614 families/individuals stayed in their homes.
883 people received legal assistance with housing issues.
880 families/individuals were protected from losing their assets, such as income, a vehicle, or a home.