Fellowship Cup remains steadfast in serving Henry County despite potential funding challenges

MT. PLEASANT — For more than 40 years, The Fellowship Cup has served as a pillar of support for Henry County, providing food assistance, rent and utility aid, medical transportation, and emergency support for the homeless. As demand for these services rises, The Fellowship Cup stays committed to its mission, relying on the community's unwavering support to make its work possible.

  Buy Photo

“Our community is the reason we are able to continue this work,” said The Fellowship Cup Director Ken Brown. “Every time there’s a challenge, the people of Henry County step up. We wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing, or be in the position that we’re in now, if not for them.”

That support remains especially critical in recent years as food insecurity rises and federal and state funding for food banks and assistance programs face increased pressure. The Fellowship Cup sources food from the Food Bank of Iowa’s Ottumwa branch, which relies on USDA support. As federal cuts reduce available resources, local food banks must spend more to acquire commodities while also serving a growing number of people.

“They’re stretched thin already,” Brown explained. “They’re saying, yes, if you want a pantry, you can have a pantry, that’s good. But as demand goes up, supply suffers, and that trickles down to The Fellowship Cup.”

The organization’s summer lunch program has seen a 25% increase in participation over the past three years as more families struggle to put food on the table. Rising inflation, higher living costs, and reductions in government assistance programs have all played a role in that increase.

“We’ve seen that number go up, and we’ll probably see it again for 2025,” Brown said. “More demand on the parents at home, less SNAP benefits for Iowa … that puts more stress on the family.”

According to Brown, 12% of Henry County families live in poverty. In the last couple years, The Fellowship Cup has also seen more first time visitors and working families using the food pantry than ever before.

To ensure continued community support, The Fellowship Cup created an annual Calendar of Giving, outlining key programs and seasonal needs.

“We want people to know what we do all year,” Brown explained. “That way, when they’re looking for ways to give back, they can see exactly where they can help.”

From April to June, the Summer Sacks Program becomes the program's focus. Summer Sacks provides lunches for children who may otherwise go hungry when school is out.

  Buy Photo

A donation of just $5 supports lunch for one child for a week, while $50 covers lunches for the entire summer. Community members can also donate snacks, drinks, or volunteer to help distribute meals.

During July and August, The Fellowship Cup focuses on school supplies, ensuring that children in need start the school year prepared.

A $7 donation covers supplies for one student, and backpacks are always needed. Volunteers are encouraged to assist with distribution or sign up as a reading buddy or pen pal for students.

From October to November, the organization shifts its attention to Thanksgiving meal assistance.

A $40 donation provides a full Thanksgiving meal for a family of four, and community members can contribute by donating turkeys, hams, or other fixings. Volunteers play a key role in assembling and distributing these meals.

  Buy Photo

As the holiday season approaches, November and December bring the Christmas Meals Program, ensuring that no family goes without a warm holiday meal. Like the Thanksgiving initiative, a $40 donation provides a meal for a family of four, and volunteers can assist with meal assembly and distribution.

Beyond these seasonal initiatives, The Fellowship Cup also provides year-round assistance. A $200 donation can help a family with rent or utility assistance, and volunteers are always needed to sort donations at the Quarter Store or assist as medical transport drivers for seniors.

One of the biggest ways people can help is by supporting the Quarter Maybe More Store with donations, shopping, or volunteering. Brown shares that the money earned from this thrift store funds many of The Fellowship Cup’s programs.

“What you do, as far as supporting the Quarter Store, stays in this community and supports the programs that we do,” Brown said.

Among Fellowship Cup programs at risk due to funding cuts is the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), which includes the Pen Pal Program and Medical Transportation Services. The Pen Pal Program pairs adults with students to help improve letter-writing skills while fostering mentorship and connection. The Medical Transportation Program provides reimbursement for volunteers who drive seniors to medical appointments.

Brown explained that if funding for these programs is cut, The Fellowship Cup will explore ways to sustain them with community support.

“We would not be able to have the same budget, but we would absorb the most important parts of the program and still fund it,” he said. “Medical transportation would not disappear. We would find some way to keep it going because we know that’s a big, big need.”

More than anything, Brown emphasized that The Fellowship Cup’s mission will not change, no matter what happens at the state or federal level.

“Even if we lost government funding, we still have to fall back on our philosophy that we’re a Christ-centered organization,” Brown said. “We’re not dependent on the government or anybody else. We’re dependent on God first, and then we appreciate our community for their continued help and fundraising to meet the needs of people in Henry County. That’s how it has always been and that’s not going to change.”

He also expressed gratitude to local businesses like Sigma, Walmart, and Hy-Vee, which have played an important role in supporting The Fellowship Cup’s mission.

“Since Sigma hit town, they have been way supportive of me, with donations for our program throughout the year,” Brown said. “And of course, Walmart and Hy-Vee, as far as the Feed America program, have been a great support.”

For those looking to get involved, The Fellowship Cup offers many opportunities for volunteering and giving. Donations to the food pantry and financial contributions help sustain the growing need for services, and volunteer opportunities exist in the Quarter Store, food distribution, and the RSVP program.

“We always need an army of volunteers,” Brown said. “There’s always work to be done, and we’re grateful for everyone who steps up to help.”

Brown is confident that, as in the past, the community will continue to show up for those in need.

“I’ve been here 11 years,” he said. “Every time there’s something that comes up, as long as we let everybody know, the community responds.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com