Iowa’s winter season can be hard on West High students. In the Coralville and Iowa City area, there are many community resources available to everyone. No matter the reason, families can access these resources with discretion. West High’s student family resource advocates Annie Gudenkauf and Christine Dougan are also available to contact.

Winter resources:

A warm winter wear distribution will occur Oct.  20-23 at the Guidelink Center (340 Southgate Avenue, Iowa City). You must sign up in order to receive winter supplies, as there will be limited availability. Children will not be permitted, and only one adult from each household should attend to limit the number of people in one space. 

The Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center on 1725 Boyrum Street in Iowa City provides a cheap option for clothes and they might do a Coats for Kids drive sometime this winter. Goodwill and Stuff etc. in Coralville are also both great options for affordable clothes from all seasons. You can also drop clothes off at all three of these thrift stores. 

The Coralville food pantry provides free food all year long. Anyone from Coralville or Tiffin can come once a week to receive food. They also do community meals, and the schedule for those is under the events tab on their website linked above. The Salvation Army on 1116 Gilbert Court in Iowa City provides an option to sign up for meal plans as well. (Email with questions at [email protected])

Holiday resources:

For Thanksgiving, Life Church in Coralville gives out free Thanksgiving dinner supplies, as well as a card for a free turkey from Fareway. No strings attached, everything is free, and a church member will deliver supplies to your door if needed. Anybody can drop off cans of food or non-perishables at the church for the cause.

For the Christmas season, there will be a Toys for Tots gift drive for newborns to 15-year-old children. The last day to register is Dec. 4, and the following is required in order to register: Photo ID for the head of the household (adult registering children must be the adult also picking up the toys), proof of date of birth for each child, proof of Johnson or Washington County residence. The pick-up of toys will be on Dec. 20 or 21 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. There will also be information on volunteering for the cause released in the near future.