Greater Connection Event Series Launches with Focus on Food Insecurity

On September 24, 2025, community members gathered at HACAP’s food reservoir for Greater Connection: Reducing Food Insecurity. We heard firsthand from nonprofits tackling hunger in Linn County and engaged in a meaningful discussion about how philanthropy can help meet growing community needs.  

With demand for food services continuing to rise, philanthropic support for these organizations is more important than ever.  

“We’re serving more people who never thought they’d need this kind of help; it’s people who never thought they’d need to walk through the door,” said Nicole McAlexander, Executive Director of the Southeast Linn Community Center in Lisbon. “We’re working to diversify our funding sources, but our largest source is still individual donors.” 

This event marked the launch of Greater Connection events, a new series designed to connect donors and community members to key local issues through behind-the-scenes looks at nonprofit work. Each session will foster open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities facing our community.   

The next Greater Connection event will take place on December 9, 2025 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. at the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, where we’ll explore how the organization is reimaging arts education.

Learn more here.