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Urbandale Community Action Network outlines food, supplies and transportation support for students
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Summary
Amy Majes of the Urbandale Community Action Network told the board that UCAN delivers rescued food to MetroWest, runs weekend backpack distribution, supplies school materials via an Endow Urbandale grant, provides winter clothing and transportation for appointments, and coordinates drives for spring break.
Amy Majes, introduced at the start of the meeting, described how the Urbandale Community Action Network supports students and families across the district. UCAN brings rescued food to MetroWest three days a week, supplies weekend meals and backpacks for students, helps with graduation needs, and works with schools to provide school supplies and clothing. Majes said UCAN received a grant from Endow Urbandale to serve as a consolidated resource hub for school supplies and also wrote grants to Prairie Meadows and others to fund winter clothing and other needs.
Majes said UCAN coordinates with school staff to make sure supplies are age‑ and preference‑appropriate (for instance, seeking breakfast items that high‑school students will actually take) and maintains an Amazon wish list for immediate needs such as underwear, socks and exercise bras. UCAN also provides transportation for residents to appointments and is exploring expanded options for student travel to DMACC or internship sites.
The board thanked UCAN for its partnerships. Majes said UCAN plans a spring‑break drive‑through to distribute backpacks and weekend meals to families in need and encouraged board members and community members to share needs with UCAN so the nonprofit can connect students with resources.
Quote: "If you hear of a need, let us know," Majes said. "Our goal is to be this resource so that if a teacher says, I don't have this, we say, call the UCAN office, and we will get it done."
