Our Community
Community Beyond our University
In addition to our goals of campus-wide sustainability, Drake is also focused on being a positive force in the community beyond our university. We strive to connect students with the surrounding Drake neighborhood and the entire Des Moines area through a variety of sustainable transportation options and community partnerships. These connections allow Drake students and staff to immerse themselves in the community and help improve social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
There are a variety of sustainable transportation options that help connect students to the Drake community and the Greater Des Moines area. Students are able to ride the DART bus for free with a student ID, check out bicycles from the Student Life Center in Olmsted, and join the metro Des Moines Bcycle program for a reduced price of $10 per year. Drake also offers car rentals through the Enterprise CarShare Program and runs the BreakShuttle, which offers trips to Minneapolis and Davenport/Chicago during school breaks.
Drake has a variety of outreach partners within the community including Anawim Housing, United Way, and the Boys and Girls Club. Through these partnerships, Drake hopes to foster socioeconomic development within the community and provide students with lasting ties to Des Moines and its residents. Additionally, through the many clubs and organizations established at Drake, there are a variety of volunteer opportunities for Drake students that focus on environmental, social, or economic sustainability.
Drake has been involved in the creation of many different organizations and projects that help increase access to healthy foods for individuals in the Des Moines area. Drake has several Little Free Pantries on campus and keeps these stocked with nutritious food for community members to take as they need. Additionally, the Sprout Garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables for these pantries. The organization Next Course Food Recovery also provides food security for the community as food from Hubbell Dining Hall is recovered and donated to nearby shelters.