FOOD PANTRY & 
PERSONAL PANTRY
HOURS:
MON,TUES,THURS:
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WEDS, FRI:
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
No one has to go hungry!
If you or someone you know is finding that their household is short of funds to meet their monthly expenses for food and/or personal hygiene items, PLEASE stop by/have them stop by our office to see if you/they qualify for assistance!
Qualifying households are required to bring the following information at the time of application:
- A picture ID
- A current utility bill or current rent receipt
- Proof of income
- Social Security cards for all household members
EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY:
The food pantry can assist a qualifyiing household with canned and boxed food items to meet their food needs on an emergency basis.
The Emergency Food Pantry located at WDM Human Services is sponsored by the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC).
PERSONAL PANTRY:
- The Personal Pantry is available monthly on an emergency basis to assist you with the following personal hygiene items:
- Bar soap
- Laundry detergent
- Feminine hygiene products
- Toilet tissue
- Deodorant
- Diapers
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste.
- These items are available on a limited basis since the pantry operates off of community donations.
- Personal Pantry Products are provided by:
-Donations from local residents
-Grants
-Area Churches/Organizations
-Church Opportunity Group Donations “Fill the May Basket”
WDM Human Services always appreciates donations of Personal Pantry Items!
S.H.A.R.E. (Self Help And Resource Exchange)-Food Program
is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides up to 50% savings on food packages once a month. The standared food package varies monthly, and always contains frest fruit, vegetables and meat. Participant receives groceries of a retail value of $44.00 for $22.00.
S.H.A.R.E. is a monthly program for people to participate:
- $22 in cash or food stamps, and
- 2 hours of verifiable volunteer service of their choice.
- Persons may help with distribution day activities to satisfy their volunteer hours on an as-needed basis.
- If unable to volunteer (disabled, elderly, shut-in), persons may use banked hours from other participants.
- Assisting anyone who is not a relative or non-household member counts as volunteering.
There is no income eligibility requirement for this program.
Additional Food Items/Packages:
- Special packages of meat or other food items are available from time to time that can be purchased for the same monthly price.
- During the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets complete with all the trimmings are also available for the regular package price.
For additional information call:
Shawn @ 327-8662 or Richard @ 279-5783 or Share Iowa @ 800-344-1107
WDM Website: http://www.shareiowa.info
Main Website: http://www.shareiowa.org
GARDEN PROGRAM
For those who have a green thumb, and are low-income, we have a great spring project for you!
Qualifying low-income households can supplement their food supply and beautify their yard through our garden program.
- WDM Human Services offers garden vouchers for vegetable and flower starter plants in early May to qualifying households.
- West Des Moines residents are also eligible for garden tilling (see our Handyman program for more details).
CLOTHING CLOSET 
HOURS:
MON,TUES,THURS:
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Our Clothing Closet is available to eligible low-income service area households for limited monthly clothing items. In addition to clothing, you may occasionally find curtains, blankets and linens, small appliances and/or accessories for your home.
The West Des Moines Human Services Advisory Board sponsors the Clothing Closet which receives all clothing donations from area residents.
Community donations are always welcome during office hours 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mon-Fri.
ENERGY ASSISTANCE
WDM Human Services offers energy assistance programs to help qualifying households with winter heating bills, furnace repair and replacement, plastic for exterior windows, summer cooling, and assistance with pending gas and/or electric disconnections and re-connections.
1. Winter heating bill assistance - The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help qualifying Iowa homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary heating costs during the winter heating season. Approved households receive a one-time payment which is made directly to their heating vendor, or directly to the client if their heat is included in their rent. (Households receiving rent subsidies who have their heat included in their rent are not eligible.)
Applications Taken:
- For households with elderly or disabled members: Beginning on the first business day after October 1, and continuing through the last working day on for before April 15.
- All other applicants: Beginning the first business day after November 1.
Documents Reguired at the Time of Application:
- Social Security numbers for all household members
- A copy of the most current heating and electric bill(s)
- Proof of household's gross income for the past 13 weeks or the entire past calendar year
Income guidelines apply!
For more information, please call our office at 222-3660.
2. Furnace Repair/Replacement - A payment toward repair or replacement of a qualifying household's furnace or heating system is available through the Energy Crisis Intervention Payments (ECIP) program.
- The application process, documentation and income requirements are the same as those for the LIHEAP program above.
3. Window Weatherization - Plastic for windows, and strips of wood and nails to hold the plastic in place, are available to qualifying households.
- Application for this assistance can be made by contacting our office to determine eligibility. Qualifying households may pick up the materials at our office.
- Our handyman may assist senior and disabled citizens who reside in West Des Moines with installation.
4. Summer Cooling - Limited quantities of fans and air conditioners are available to qualifying households.
5. Gas/Electric emergency utility assistance - If a qualifying service area household has experienced recent financial hardship, and is in danger of having ther gas and/or electric service(s) disconnected, or if this/these utility services has/have already been disconnected, we may be able to help!
We offer programs to assist qualifying households maintain or re-establish these service(s).
Income verification is the same as that required by the LIHEAP program above and information from a household's gas and/or electric vendor(s) is also required at the time of application.
BUDGET ASSISTANCE
Income/Expense Budget Worksheets and other Budget Information is available upon request to help you set up and maintain a budget that works for you.
H20 Plus Program
Limited assistance is available to eligible West Des Moines households who are experiencing a financial setback that has made it difficult for them to pay their WDM Water/Municipal Services bill on time.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMS
If you or someone you know needs assistance to help your/their family during the holiday seasons, please contact our office at 222-3660 after October 1 to find out how to complete a holiday application.
WDM Human Services offers the following holiday programs to qualifying households in need:
- Thanksgiving Food Baskets
- Thanksgiving Day Meal
- Christmas Food Baskets
- Toyland for Children
- Shopping Trip for Children to Purchase Gifts for Family Members
- Winter Coats for Children
- Preschool Children's Party - view photos from the 2008 party!