AREA FOOD PANTRIES
Mobile food pantries, available through Foodbank for the Heartland, provide shelf-stable as well as perishable food. Services are free for both families and individuals. For information about upcoming dates, go to foodbankheartland.org.
Additionally, many locations throughout southwest Iowa serve as permanent food pantries.
Each pantry has its own rules regarding how frequently individuals and families can use their services. Household size generally determines how many items can be taken.
Many permit clients to use their services every 30 days, but anyone interested is advised to check with the location most convenient for them.
Food pantry services are offered free.
Council Bluffs:
Mohm’s Place (New Vision), 1435 N. 15th St., Council Bluffs; 712-322-7570. Meal provider.
Trailblazers Ministry, 815 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs; 402-510-7025. Meal provider.
Calvary Assembly of God, 2022 Eighth Ave., Council Bluffs; 402-706-6717. Pantry.
Church of God of Prophecy Pantry, 1924 Ave. E, Council Bluffs. Pantry.
Refuge Bible Pantry, 634 Willow Ave., Council Bluffs; 402-238-5466. Pantry.
Southside Helping Hands Pantry, 1919 S. 10th St., Council Bluffs; 712-216-1148. Pantry.
Trailblazers Pantry, 815 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs; 402-510-7025. Pantry.
Victory Fellowship Pantry, 2111 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs; 712-323-3453. Pantry.
First Baptist Food Pantry, 540 First Ave., Council Bluffs; 712-322-2569. Pantry.
Salvation Army Council Bluffs Pantry, 715 N. 16th St., Council Bluffs; 712-328-2088. Pantry.
Care & Share Pantry, 1808 Fifth Ave., Council Bluffs; 402-212-7324. Pantry.
Care & Share Pantry, 600 S. Main St., Council Bluffs; 402-212-7324. Pantry.
Community of Christ Food Pantry, 17 N. Second St., Council Bluffs; 712-328-8122. Pantry.
Our Saviors Lutheran Pantry, 313 Story St., Council Bluffs; 712-322-6655. Pantry.
Clarinda Community Center Pantry, 615 E. Main St., Clarinda. 712-542-3161. Pantry.
Faith, Food & Fellowship, 223 W. Washington St., Clarinda; 515-480-5287. Pantry.
Sew & Share Pantry, 223 W. Washington St., Clarinda; 712-542-3719. Pantry.
Shenandoah:
United Methodist Men’s Group, 200 Church St., Shenandoah; 712-370-3353. Meal provider.
Community Food Pantry Shenandoah, 411 W. Clarinda Ave., Shenandoah; 712-246-3190. Pantry.
Atlantic Food Pantry, 19 W. Fourth St., Atlantic; 712-243-2771. Pantry.
Crescent Food Pantry, 720 Old Lincoln Hwy., Crescent; 712-545-9031. Pantry.
Dunlap Community Food Pantry, 714 Iowa Ave., Dunlap; 712-592-0549. Pantry.
Mills County Ministerial Pantry, 112 N. Walnut St., Glenwood; 712-527-3122. Pantry.
Mills County Storehouse, 405 Nuckolls St., Glenwood; 402-657-7974. Pantry.
Vanua Inc., 22558 Elrod Ave., Glenwood; 712-527-3122. Pantry.
Griswold Food Pantry, 100 Cass St., Griswold; 712-249-3386. Pantry.
West Central Community Action, 1018 Sixth St., Harlan; 712-755-5602. Pantry.
West Central Community Action, 107 N. Fourth Ave., Ste. 7, Logan; 712-644-3388. Pantry.
West Central Community Action, 313 Main St., Malvern; 712-624-8172. Pantry.
Neola Community Food Pantry, 106 Lincoln St., Minden; 712-488-7942. Pantry.
United Methodist, 109 S. Vine St., Mondamin; 402-690-4692. Pantry.
First Baptist Pantry, 406 N. Third St., Red Oak; 712-623-9593. Pantry.
West Central Community Action, 1109 Highland Ave., Red Oak; 712-623-2339. Pantry.
Trinity Lutheran Church Pantry, 231 Antique City Dr., Walnut; 712-249-0760. Pantry.
Hamburg Inter-Church Council, 1008 Main St., Hamburg; 660-253-0678. Pantry.
West Central Community Action, 910 Illinois St., Sidney; 712-374-3367. Pantry.
OMAHA METRO TRANSPORTATION
There are two bus lines that service the Bluffs; the Yellow and Blue lines alternate every half hour on weekdays, while the Yellow runs every hour and a half on Saturdays. There are no Council Bluffs routes that run on Sundays.
The Yellow line connects downtown Omaha to downtown Council Bluffs via West Broadway, then takes Seventh Street south. It loops Metro Crossing, then turns east along Veterans Memorial Highway, turning north at 24th Street and looping the Mid-America Center. It then takes 23rd Avenue west to the South Expressway, going north to return to downtown Council Bluffs, then back to Omaha along West Broadway.
The Blue line connects downtown Omaha to West Broadway, then takes 16th Street north to Avenue G before turning south on Eighth Street and continuing along Broadway. It then heads northeast toward Iowa Western Community College, then loops southwest past Mall of the Bluffs before returning to Broadway and heading back toward Omaha.
Metro riders are encouraged to check ometro.com to see if there are any active alerts impacting their planned travel routes.
Bus fare is $1.25 for one ride, or $1.50 for a transfer. On weekdays, a transfer is good for 90 minutes and can be used on up to 3 buses. On weekends, transfers are good for 120 minutes.
Fare is accepted via cash or with a bus pass. If a rider pays with a cash amount other than exact change, the remaining balance is transferred onto a card.
For maps, a full schedule, information on purchasing passes and more, go to ometro.com.
Southwest Iowa Transit Agency, or SWITA, offers accessible transportation services to all residents of Pottawattamie, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties.
Regularly scheduled service is available between Atlantic, Shelby and Council Bluffs Monday through Saturday, and special trips can be scheduled as well.
Buses leave Council Bluffs and Atlantic for Shelby at 6 a.m., 3 p.m. and 12 a.m. Buses leave Shelby for Council Bluffs and Atlantic at 6:45 a.m., 3:45 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. Fares are $5 from Council Bluffs or Atlantic to Shelby and $8 between Council Bluffs and Atlantic during these times. Round trip discounts are available.
Regular service is also available between Council Bluffs and Oakland Monday through Sunday. Buses leave Omaha at 4:30 a.m. and Council Bluffs at 5:00 a.m. The return bus will leave Oakland at approximately 3:30 p.m. This service is $3.50 one way or $7 round-trip.
Rates for special trips are $40 per hour, or $30 per hour for medical trips. Rates begin when the driver gets in the bus and run until the driver gets home. If the trip will be paid for by Medicaid or Title 19, it will need to be scheduled through the covered individual’s MCO.
Rides can be pooled for discounted rates depending on availability.
Rides are available from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, excluding holidays. Car seats are available.
Call 1-800-842-8065 for more information or to schedule a ride. Information is also available at swipco.org/transit-swita.
All SWITA services are open to the general public, including individuals with disabilities. Anyone with hearing impairments is encouraged to contact SWITA via Relay Iowa by dialing 711 or at 1-800-735-2943.
