As the federal government shutdown stretches to its one-month mark, hundreds of thousands of Iowans are bracing for November without food assistance. Local food pantries say they face an “unprecedented challenge” when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are lost on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Big Grove Brewery, and its charitable arm, Big Grove for Good Foundation, have stepped up by donating $12,000 to three Midwest food banks: Eastern Iowa’s Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), central Iowa’s Food Bank of Iowa, and the Food Bank for the Heartland, which serves western Iowa, Omaha, and parts of Nebraska.
The donations are targeted toward community organizations in the areas Big Grove’s taprooms serve. Founded in Solon, the brewery operates four additional locations in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines, and most recently an Omaha taproom that opened in September.
Big Grove pledges $4K to each food pantry
The $4,000 donations to the three food pantries are to help residents attain what Big Grove believe’s are basic essentials, according to the Big Grove for Good Foundation. A U.S. Senate vote on Oct. 28 —for the 13th time — failed as Americans endure what is already the second-longest shutdown in history.
“At Big Grove for Good, we believe in showing up for our communities when it matters most,” said Mikala Demet, Executive Director of the Big Grove for Good Foundation, in a news release. “Food and shelter are basic needs that no one should have to go without, and these donations are one way we can support the incredible organizations and individuals working every day to care for our neighbors and address hunger and homelessness across our region.”
Nov. 16-22 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The annual evemt aims to raise awareness and draw attention to hunger and homelessness, at a time when many shelters begin opening their winter facilities.
Big Grove for Good will donate another $12,000 to local homeless shelters and organizations.
“Big Grove has always been about strengthening the neighborhoods where we operate,” said Matt Swift, co-founder and CEO of Big Grove in March 2025 statement. “We intentionally build where we can contribute to revitalization efforts. Now, we’re taking that commitment further—using our beer sales to directly fund neighborhood improvement projects led by the people who live there.”
What is Big Grove for Good?
The eastern Iowa-based brewery put $20,000 into the private 501(c)(3) Big Grove for Good Foundation to assist with the program’s launch. The grants and donations are directly funded through sales of The Neighborhood Beer. The beverage is available in area taprooms and in retail grocers. For every case sold, $1 will go directly to Big Grove’s grant program.
The nonprofit, inspired by the brewery’s values, operates independently of Big Grove, “ensuring a dedicated commitment to community impact.”
The grants and donations support local community projects and causes.
In May, the foundation invested $48,000 in six organizations including the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) and the Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
Big Grove is honoring veterans in November, offering holiday giveaways
Big Grove will offer free meals to veterans, active-duty service members, and gold star family members at all of its locations on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Holiday meal giveaways will also be available for Thanksgiving and Christmas at select locations.
“Big Grove will continue to review the situation that many will soon face and take additional actions to help support those in our community,” Swift said in a news release.
Des Moines Register reporters Stephen Gruber-Miller and F. Amanda Tugade contributed to this article.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa’s Big Grove Brewery pledges $12K to help food banks amid loss of SNAP benefits
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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