Families Forward Bidwell Pantry

Families Forward Bidwell Pantry is the highest-serving food pantry in Iowa, located at 1203 Hartford Avenue in Des Moines, and provides free food, clothing, and basic necessities to families in need. Operating Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the pantry serves 6,000-9,000 individuals monthly and operates as a no-boundary pantry welcoming all regardless of residence or financial situation. As part of the nonprofit Families Forward organization, which merged from Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill in July 2023, the Bidwell Pantry works alongside three other programs—Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection—to help break the cycle of poverty and provide pathways to self-sufficiency for Iowa families.