Serving Together: Meals from the Heartland

When Collaboration Meets Service, Communities Thrive

Collaboration and service are more than core values to First Security Bank & Trust employees - they are how we come together to make a difference.

On January 27, 2026, employees, family members, students, and community partners came together for a day of service with Meals from the Heartland, a volunteer organization based in West Des Moines. What began as a goal to package 40,000 meals quickly became a powerful example of what collaboration can accomplish when people unite around a shared purpose.

By the end of the day, our volunteers had packaged 46,656 meals, helping provide nourishment to communities in need.

The Power of Working Together

The impact of the day was made possible by an incredible group of 73 total volunteers working side-by-side:

61 employee volunteers (10 employees served multiple shifts)
8 student volunteers, including members of the Charles City FFA
Employee family members and community supporters who joined the effort

Together, our team packaged:

216 boxes of food
36 bags per box
6 meals per bag

A grand total of 46,656 meals - enough to feed 179 children for an entire year. As part of our commitment to supporting the communities we serve, fourteen boxes (3,024 meals) were distributed to local food banks!

First Security team filling meal bags during Meals from the Heartland event

Serving TogetherMeals from the Heartland

Staff scooping ingredients during Meals from the Heartland event

More Than a Day of Service

The day with Meals from the Heartland strengthened the connections within our team while the meals we packaged will make a meaningful difference for families in our communities and around the world.

Employees worked alongside colleagues from different departments and locations, students joined experienced volunteers, and families pitched in together. The result was a day filled with teamwork, shared purpose, and plenty of energy.

It was a powerful reminder that when people collaborate in service, the impact goes far beyond a single event.

Our Commitment to Community

Service has always been at the heart of who we are as a bank. By collaborating with our employees, partners, and community members, we’re able to turn that commitment into meaningful action.

And together, we look forward to making an even greater impact in the future.

Team completes another meal bag at Meals from the Heartland event