CommUnity Crisis Services

builtbycommunity.org When any situation has become too difficult for you to cope with alone, we can help. Get involved! You are not alone. With Mr.

CommUnity Crisis Services is a volunteer-driven organization based in Iowa City, Iowa that provides immediate and non-judgmental support for individuals facing an emotional, food, or financial crisis. CommUnity provides immediate support through our Food Bank, Financial Support Program, Crisis Helplines, and Mobile Crisis Response. The Food Bank provides grocery items to Johnson County residents.

Clients can shop our shelves or receive a delivery once a week. https://builtbycommunity.org/pepperwood/

Financial Support provides necessities such as education and work enabling items, housing and utilities assistance, vouchers for clothing, temporary mailing addresses, transportation assistance, and more. https://builtbycommunity.org/financialsupport/

Crisis Helplines provides free, non-judgmental emotional support to anyone who needs it. Reach us via phone or text at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat

Mobile Crisis Response dispatches mental health counselors to homes, schools, emergency rooms, or public places where a mental health crisis is occurring. To have crisis counselors dispatched to your location, call 1-855-581-8111 and ask for Mobile Crisis. You can support our mission by becoming a volunteer or making a donation. Sign up to be a volunteer at https://builtbycommunity.org/volunteer/
Make a donation at https://builtbycommunity.org/give/

Please don’t hesitate to reach out. History:

It’s 1969 on the University of Iowa campus. Two young freshmen return to their Burge Hall dorm room and find the completely unexpected – their roommate has barricaded the door and attempted suicide. They rush her to care and after a long and scary night, are sent home knowing she is going to be physically okay. But in the following days, as the two women deal with both their roommate’s and their own emotional upheaval, they learn there are simply no resources available to help them. That experience launched a campaign of advocacy, for those two young women and on behalf of all University of Iowa students, to establish support services for others in crisis. The two women began knocking on doors and by 1970, had found an ally in Verne Kelley, the Community Mental Health Center’s director at that time. Kelley’s help, these students established what would become CommUnity Crisis Services. CommUnity was founded with the philosophy that a client should determine how he or she can best be helped, using a process that ensures dignity to all who are served. This philosophy has facilitated CommUnity’s growth as the community it serves has grown in the past 50 years. A small food pantry was added in 1978 in response to client needs. Clothing and household items became available through vouchers from Goodwill and Crowded Closet in 1983. Throughout the 1980’s, CommUnity worked to expand its suicide prevention services and began offering support for survivors of a suicide loss. Services were developed to respond to the needs of transients and the homeless. In the following decade, a collaboration with the local religious community led to distribution of emergency financial support. The Food Bank grew into a weekly operation and began working with Table-to-Table to distribute locally gleaned food. In recent years, CommUnity has added suicide prevention training and crisis incident stress management services. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Full statement: https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs

05/27/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 25 at 4 p.m. to celebrate and unveil the new, specialized Mobile Pantry vehicle!🚚 This new truck means more fresh food, more flexibility, and more neighbors able to access food right where they are. It’s a big step forward in making sure food access is easier, closer, and more consistent across our community.

We’ll have a short program, the official ribbon cutting, and a chance to see the new Mobile Pantry vehicle up close. It’s a quick, casual event. Come as you are and feel free to bring a friend!

For more information, visit https://buff.ly/0DdsE0B

05/27/2026

"No single agency can meet every single challenge facing our community alone. But when law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and behavioral health professionals work together, our community becomes safer, healthier, and stronger for everyone," says CommUnity CEO, Sarah Nelson. "By working together and aligning our resources, expertise, and roles, we can make the most of every investment while meeting this moment for all of our residents."

Read more about the vision for one of the strongest public safety systems possible at https://buff.ly/GKfLEhQ

Get Involved | Volunteer Opportunities | CommUnity Crisis Services

05/26/2026

Following the Memorial Day holiday closures, we’re seeing delivery requests rise quickly, and that means we have a steady and growing need for volunteer drivers and bag prep volunteers to help make sure our neighbors can access food.

If you or someone you know has a few hours to give, we would love to have you join us. Every delivery helps ensure families, seniors, and neighbors across our community have the support they need. 💙

Sign up to volunteer today and help us keep food moving where it’s needed most!

https://buff.ly/b03L7HU

Get Involved | Volunteer Opportunities | CommUnity Crisis Services Learn more about volunteer opportunities with CommUnity in Iowa City. We have many opportunities available and you don't have to choose just one.

05/25/2026

Will we see you at Vue Rooftop tomorrow?🌇 10% of dine-in and carry-out proceeds from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be donated to CommUnity to continue providing immediate, non-judgmental support to our neighbors in crisis.
Visit https://buff.ly/Z1lEATh to make a reservation!

05/25/2026

Memorial Day can bring up a lot of emotions - grief, loneliness, memories, gratitude, or simply the weight of a hard season. If today feels difficult, you don’t have to carry it alone. Reach out to someone you trust, check in with a friend, or connect with support if you need it. Even a simple conversation can make a difference. 💙

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 anytime for support.

05/24/2026

For many young people, texting can feel easier than talking on the phone, especially during overwhelming moments.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want youth to know that support is available in a way that feels more comfortable and accessible. By texting 988, young people can connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7 for support with anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, thoughts of su***de, or any emotional crisis.

Texting can offer:
• More privacy and less pressure
• Time to process and respond
• A familiar way to communicate
• Immediate connection to compassionate support

No problem is “too small” to reach out for help.

Text 988 anytime for support.

05/23/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, our Food Bank and Financial Support services will be closed today through Monday, May 25. We will reopen with normal hours on Tuesday, May 26.
We hope everyone has a safe and meaningful holiday!

Photos from CommUnity Crisis Services's post

05/22/2026

Hobby Con starts today! Visit The Hobby Corner in Iowa City this weekend to try out a Demo, build a kit, paint a miniature, and more!🎨 Donations from this event will benefit CommUnity. To find out more, visit https://buff.ly/5OHwcYR

05/21/2026

Supporting our neighbors takes many hands and every role is essential. You can make a difference today by signing up for a volunteer shift!
Find more information about various roles here: https://buff.ly/fM2dANP

05/21/2026

We’re still looking for a few more volunteer delivery drivers next week to help make sure neighbors can access food after our Memorial Day closure on Monday. A small amount of your time can make a huge difference for families. 🚗🥫

Deliveries are a flexible, meaningful way to support the community during a busy week. Sign up here:

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Telephone

+13193512726

Website

http://www.builtbycommunity.org/

Address

1121 Gilbert Court
Iowa City, IA
52240

CommUnity Crisis Services

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