CommUnity Crisis Services
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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
10/05/2026
💉 A no-school day is a great day to get your family protected!
Join us for a FREE COVID & flu vaccine clinic on Monday, Oct. 19 (a no-school day at Iowa City schools), from noon–3 p.m. in Iowa City.
This clinic is open to adults AND children, and we’ll have snacks and kids’ activities available to make the day a little more fun. ❤️
10/02/2026
Looking for an easy way to get your flu and COVID vaccines this fall? We’ve got you! 💉
CommUnity is hosting two FREE vaccine clinics in Iowa City:
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Adults only
📅 Monday, Oct. 19 | Noon–3 p.m.
Adults & children
Both clinics will have snacks and kids’ activities, and insurance is accepted but not required.
📍 CommUnity Market, 1055 Hwy 6 E, Iowa City
10/02/2026
We’re thrilled to be back.
CommUnity is proud to be one of a handful of organizations across the nation selected to answer contacts to the restored 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline’s ‘Press 3’ services for LGBTQ+ youth.
We answered these contacts before the service was cut last year, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to once again provide compassionate and empathetic support to LGBTQ+ youth who need someone to listen.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 and press 3 to connect with a trained counselor who’s ready to listen.
You don’t have to navigate a hard moment alone. 💙
10/01/2026
We had so much fun connecting with University of Iowa students at Fresh Check Day yesterday! Thank you to all who added to our affirmation canvas, be sure to take a peek for an uplifting message.
Thank you The University of Iowa: University Counseling Service for having us, we can't wait for next year! 💛
09/30/2026
Earlier this week, a food pantry volunteer let us know that today is Pet Hunger Awareness Day! 🐾
Did you know that the food pantry accepts donations of pet food for our furriest clients? No one should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their furry family members. For neighbors facing food insecurity, access to pet food can make a big difference.
Help boost the message by posting a photo of your dog, cat, fish, axolotl, bunny, porcupine.... best friend (!) in the comments!
💉 Free COVID & flu vaccines are coming to CommUnity!
Adults can stop by the CommUnity Market at 1055 Hwy 6 E in Iowa City on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
No insurance? No problem. Insurance is accepted, but you don’t need it to get vaccinated.
Snacks and kids’ activities will also be available!
09/29/2026
Think you CAN construct something like these? CAN you rally your workplace, place of worship, or another group together?🤔
If you answered yes to these two questions, CAN you sign up to compete in this year's Corridor CANstruction? We're looking for teams to build sculptures in Coral Ridge Mall out of cans of food that would then be donated to CommUnity Food Bank. Register your team here: https://buff.ly/X5Md1eF
We CAN't wait to see you there!🥫
09/28/2026
We’ve had a LOT of new faces around here lately, and we’re so glad you’re here!
Want to make sure you don’t miss what we’re up to? Sign up for our email updates! We’ll keep you in the loop on upcoming events, community impact, ways to get involved, and all the things happening at CommUnity.
📬 Sign up and stay in the know: https://buff.ly/0aRECN1
Ahem! We interrupt your regularly scheduled scrolling to remind you to step outside, drink some water, call a friend, or take a moment to do anything that fills your cup. We live in a world of constant notifications and news, and it is okay to stop for a minute and breathe.
If it would help to chat with someone who will just listen and provide support, please don't hesitate to reach out. Counselors are available 24/7 through the 988 Lifeline or mobile crisis.
Text or call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat
Have mobile crisis counselors dispatched in Johnson or Iowa County by calling 855-581-8111.
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1121 Gilbert Court
Iowa City, IA
52240
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