Cass County Mobile Food Pantry to Launch New Intake System at February 11 Distribution

News

February 2nd, 2026 by Ric Hanson

New technology will improve check-in process, privacy, and long-term community support
Atlantic, Iowa – Cass County’s Mobile Food Pantry distribution on Wednesday, February 11, will introduce a new electronic intake system provided by the Food Bank for the Heartland, designed to make check-in faster, more secure, and more efficient for neighbors accessing food assistance. Distributions will be held at the following locations and times:
  • Atlantic: Cass County Fairgrounds, 1000 Fair Ave., Atlantic, IA 50022 | 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
  • Massena: East side of Massena City Park, 500 5th St., Massena, IA 50853 | 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The new system, called Service Insights, will be used at the Mobile Food Pantry beginning February 11. The Atlantic, Anita, and Griswold Food Pantries are expected to transition to the same system in the future; however, no implementation dates have been set at this time.  Once a household completes the initial intake at any participating location, future visits will be much quicker—neighbors will only need to state their name to be checked in at their respective pantry. Service Insights securely stores information in a shared network used by Food Bank partners while keeping individual visit details private to each agency. The system replaces paper forms and outdated databases with a modern, web-based platform that can be accessed on nearly any device.

Cass County Mobile Food Pantry and Food Pantry volunteers complete training on the new Food Bank for the Heartland intake system to better serve individuals and families across the county. (Courtesy Grace McAfee)

“This update will help us serve people more quickly while also protecting their privacy,” said Grace McAfee, Community Wellness Coordinator at Cass Health. “It also allows us to better understand community needs so we can strengthen food access across Cass County.”
What neighbors can expect:
  • A slightly longer check-in during their first visit as intake information is entered.
  • Faster service at future visits with no need to repeat the full intake process.
  • Secure handling of personal information, with private data remaining with the serving agency.
  • No documentation is required.
  • Answering intake questions will not disqualify anyone from receiving food or participating in the mobile pantry.
In addition to improving day-to-day operations, Service Insights provides anonymous, aggregate data that helps local partners and the Food Bank for the Heartland better understand what drives food insecurity in the community. These insights support grant applications, funding opportunities, and resource planning to ensure food assistance programs remain strong and responsive.
Atlantic 2026 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Cass County Fairgrounds (1000 Fair Ave., Atlantic, IA 50022)
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Dates:
  • February 11, 2026
  • April 8, 2026
  • June 10, 2026
Anita 2026 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut St., Anita, IA 50020)
Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Dates:
  • March 18, 2026
  • May 13, 2026
Massena 2026 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: East Side of Massena’s City Park (500 5th St., Massena, IA 50853)
Time: 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Dates:
  • February 11, 2026
  • April 8, 2026
  • June 10, 2026
Additional Mobile Food Pantry dates for July, August, September, and October 2026 will be released in mid-March 2026. Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change.
For additional information or questions, please contact Grace McAfee, Community Wellness Coordinator, at (712) 250-8170 or by email at mcage@casshealth.org.
For the latest information on mobile food pantries, visit the Food Bank of the Heartland’s Find Food tool. For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook.