We care for us: Iowa places to support as another Trump presidency looms

Trans Iowans and allies yell "We won't go quiet" following an Iowa House subcommittee meeting that advanced an anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ bill. Photo by Ty Rushing

By Avery Staker, Amie Rivers

November 6, 2024

We care for us: That’s the message we want Iowans to carry with them in the immediate aftermath of the election, instead of despair.

Starting Line social media manager Avery Staker has begun this list of community resources so Iowans can support each other. It includes LGBTQ+ groups, community fridges and food pantries, mutual aid funds, health advocates, and more, all of whom could use caring folks to donate their time or money.

We’re going to be updating this list in the coming days and weeks. Please share your favorite organization by emailing [email protected].

DES MOINES

Common Love: free clothing pop-ups and LGBTQ+ resources
- Instagram
- Facebook
Des Moines Black Liberation Movement
- Instagram
- Facebook
Des Moines Mutual Aid
Des Moines People’s Town Hall: local issue advocacy and city council accountability
- Instagram
- Facebook
- X
Des Moines Public Library
Des Moines Refugee Support
Fair Air Network: COVID resources and health advocacy
- Instagram
- X
Fill the Fridge Iowa
- Map of Des Moines area community fridges
- Community fridge etiquette
- Instagram
Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition
Prairielands Freedom Fund
The Supply Hive
- Instagram
- Facebook
The Woodland Realm: community garden
Queer Youth Resource Center
- Instagram
- Facebook

DUBUQUE

Dubuque LGBTQ+ Resource Network
- Facebook

WATERLOO/CEDAR FALLS

Cedar Valley LGBTQ+ Coalition

SIOUXLAND

IOWA CITY/CEDAR RAPIDS

CommUnity Crisis Services
Domestic Violence Intervention Program: trained health advocates and victim advocacy
Emma Goldman Clinic: not-for-profit reproductive health care clinic
Iowa City Community Fridge
LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library: hosts “Transistors,” a support group for trans and nonbinary adults
Public Space One: community arts center, houses the LGBTQ Archives and the Center for Afrofuturist Studies
Shelter House: advocacy and support for houseless folks
Table to Table: collect and redistributes surplus food
Transformation Cedar Rapids: trans and nonbinary support group
United Action for Youth

AMES

Ames Public Library
Pride Ames
Reliable Street: community arts and resources

CENTRAL IOWA

SOUTHEAST IOWA

Golden Magnolia Sanctuary: rural resilience hub and community kitchen
- Instagram
- Facebook

STATEWIDE

Black Iowa Business Directory
Iowa Abortion Access Fund
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice
Iowa Mutual Aid Network
Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund
Lavender Legal Center
Lesbians of Iowa
- For A Time Such As This queer resource map and form to add your service to the map
- Instagram
- Facebook
Lutheran Services of Iowa Global Greens
OneIowa & OneIowa Action

INSPIRATION

A special thanks to the readers who contribute to this article—that is the essence of community organizing!

Avery Staker,

Avery Staker is Iowa Starting Line's Social Media Manager, which is their first position in a newsroom after graduating college. Their passion is visual storytelling; ultimately, they want to tap into the potential of photojournalism and documentary filmmaking in empowering their community. Right now, though, they have memes to make for the newsletter. Send story ideas and tips to them at [email protected].

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Amie Rivers

Amie Rivers is Starting Line's community editor, labor reporter and newsletter snarker-in-chief. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes. Send all story tips and pet photos to [email protected] and sign up for our newsletter here.

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CATEGORIES: Election 2024

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Since day one, our goal here at Iowa Starting Line has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Iowan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.