Free Lunch Program of Iowa City

The Free Lunch Program (FLP) is one of the quiet services in the Iowa City area. It began in January 1983 when two therapists from the Community Mental Health Center, wishing to address the concerns of their clients, spoke to a Lenten study group at St. Mary's Parish about the need for a free meal for the needy in the community. The response was, "Let's do it."

By 1989, the Free Lunch Program had become a designated United Way agency and expanded to a 6-day-a-week meal program with over 35 different religious, student, neighborhood, and social groups providing the meals. Volunteer teams prepare and serve nutritious meals using their own food or the food from local restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors via Table to Table Food Rescue Organization, and from items in the Free Lunch pantry obtained through HACAP. The Free Lunch Program prides itself on having the coffee on by 9 a.m. and lunch served by noon.

Respecting the dignity of the guests has been the cornerstone of its service. This guiding principle of unconditional respect and hospitality has been as integral to the program as the hot, nourishing meals.

How you can help

You can help financially.

Your donations can be channeled through the United Way of Johnson County, or send your check, payable to the Free Lunch Program, directly to:

Richard Jensen, FLP Treasurer
1704 Oak Lake Park Rd.
Coralville, IA 52241

You can donate food.

We always seem to need staple items such as coffee, sugar, peanut butter, jelly, and fruit juice. For a current list of most-needed items, contact the FLP volunteer coordinator or director.

You can give your time and energy.

Consider these options:

• Help a serving team
• Clean part of the kitchen
• Work on a food drive
• Come have lunch and visit with the guests

To discuss how the time you have available will fit into the serving schedule, or to further explore your options for involvement at the FLP, contact Mary Palmberg, FLP director & volunteer coordinator, via e-mail or phone at 319-337-7917.

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Some Free Lunch Program facts:

• An average of 105 people per day are served lunches.
• The FLP serves over 34,000 noon meals a year.
• In a year, FLP guests eat over 7,000 self-served breakfasts.

Your gifts work hard at the FLP:

• $40 provides milk for 2 meals
• $10 supplies juice for 1 meal
• $5 brews enough coffee for 1 day

Comments about the FLP...

...from our guests:

• "If I don't eat here, my diet really suffers."
• "Food's great! Service is great!"
• "It's a good place to socialize."

...from some of our volunteers:

• "It makes me realize that there is a much bigger world out there than what I'm personally in contact with on a day-to-day basis."
• "The people at the FLP have needs that go far beyond hunger. We, as volunteers, can soften some harshness, not just with food, but with hospitality."