When Basic Needs Are Met, Learning Can Happen

Education success is closely tied to stability outside the classroom. Students struggling with food insecurity, housing instability, or family stress face significant barriers to staying engaged in school.

United Way of Central Iowa funded partners, including Children & Family Urban Movement, Oakridge Neighborhood, Willkie House, and Youth Law Center, work with families to address these challenges and reduce disruptions that can pull students away from learning.

“When basic needs aren’t met, nothing else works the way it should,” said Kate Bennett, Community Impact Officer at United Way of Central Iowa. “Stability is foundational to education success.”

That connection is especially clear when it comes to food access. A Des Moines Public Schools leader shared on United Way’s Community Difference Makers podcast that when students have consistent access to food at school, it removes daily stress for families and helps students focus on learning instead of worrying about their next meal.

Jami Hagemeier, Executive Director, Youth Law Center, framed it simply: “When families are supported, students can focus. And when students can focus, they are much more likely to stay connected to school improving their ability to learn.”

United Way of Central Iowa invests in essential needs supports because graduation outcomes often reflect far more than academics. Addressing these barriers helps ensure students can show up consistently, ready to learn.