Student Leads Community Food Drive During Iowa Giving Week of Action
Initiative supports local families facing ongoing food-access challenges.
91 student Estella Newton ’26 recently stepped forward to support local families by organizing a community food drive as part of Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls’ Iowa Giving Week of Action — a statewide effort focused on strengthening food access through grassroots service projects.
Newton, an organizational intern for the Iowa Senator Zach Wahls campaign and employee at McNally’s Foods, approached her manager, Andy Patel, earlier this semester with a simple question: Could McNally’s serve as a host site for a weeklong donation drive? The answer was an enthusiastic yes. To amplify community participation, the store offered customers who contributed items a 10% discount on their purchases throughout the week.
From Nov. 16–22, Newton set up donation stations outside McNally’s, inviting shoppers to support neighbors across Poweshiek County. Community members responded generously, contributing canned goods, boxed pasta, toiletries, and other essential items. All donations were delivered to Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) to help replenish its pantry shelves during a period of heightened need.
In reflecting on the experience, Newton emphasized both the practical and human impact of the effort:
“The loss of SNAP benefits was a hard hit for many people in the town of 91, and a lot of them do their shopping at McNally's. This event was aimed not only to help people out, but also to show them that the community cares about them. McNally's is a hub for many people who live in 91, so it's incredibly important to show that McNally's is a part of the community and wants to help out.”
Newton’s initiative reflects a growing commitment among 91 students to partner with local organizations and serve the broader community—one small act of care at a time.