Coach Jan Jensen and Kate Martin join the Coralville Community Food Pantry to ‘Team Up Against Hunger’

It’s been a year of changes for the University of Iowa Women’s Basketball Team, with new players taking over from big names like Caitlin Clark and Kate “Money” Martin, both now in the WNBA. The squad also got its first new head coach in a quarter century, as Jan Jensen replaced Lisa Bluder, who retired last year. But one thing hasn’t changed: Iowa WBB stars are still supporting the Coralville Community Food Pantry (CCFP).

The CCFP spring fundraiser is timed to coincide with March Madness and will culminate in a meet-and-greet at the pantry on April 7, featuring Hawkeyes Head Coach Jan Jensen and Hawkeye-turned-pro-baller Kate Martin. 

“We are fortunate to have a longstanding relationship with Jan Jensen and her spouse Julie Fitzpatrick,” CCFP Executive Director John Boller told Little Village. “They’ve been longtime supporters of the Coralville Food Pantry. Julie volunteers with us on a regular basis.”

Boller said they almost had Jensen lined up for last year’s fundraiser, but “her schedule got very busy when she took over as head coach.” This year, Jensen was able to make time for CFFP’s Team Up Against Hunger fundraiser. 

The pantry also reached out to former Hawkeye captain Kate Martin, who volunteered to help, setting aside some of her limited free time before the first tip-off of the WNBA season in May. This season will see two significant expansions for the WNBA. First, the league will be playing a 44-game season for the first time, up from 40 games last year. Second, the league will welcome its first new team since 2008, the Golden State Valkyries. 

When the Valkyries take the court at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 6 for the first preseason game, Kate Martin will be there. The former Las Vegas Ace is a guard on the new team. Just like in her Iowa days, Martin will be wearing number 20. 

Twenty is a key number for the Team Up against Hunger fundraiser. CFFP is hoping to raise $20,000, and online donations made of $20 or more made before the fundraiser concludes on April 7 get the donor an entry in a drawing to win a series of prizes. The top prize is a Kate Martin Golden State Valkyries jersey signed by Martin. 

Prize winners will be announced at the Monday, April 7 meet-and-greet at CFFP (804 13th Ave). The 90-minute event is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. “Visitors for the Meet & Greet are encouraged to bring a donation of $20+ or 2-3 health items to donate (menstrual products, diapers, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) in exchange for a selfie or autograph with Kate and Jan,” CCFP’s site explains. Everyone who brings a donation will be entered into the drawings for prizes, including the jersey. 

Community support for the pantry is more important than ever now, Boller said. 

“We’ve been seeing historic increases every year, every month at the food pantry — breaking records,” he said. “As the cost of living continues to increase, families are really struggling, and we’re the primary safety net for families in the greater Coralville-area community.”

“Each day it’s a challenge to keep our shelves and our cooler stocked. And now we’re having to deal with these debilitating external threats that are coming from both Des Moines and D.C. policies and cuts to safety-net programs that are literally taking food away from families, from kids, from seniors, from everyone.”

Earlier this month, as part of the Trump administration’s cuts in government services driven by Elon Musk’s DOGE, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service announced it would no longer provide previously scheduled funds through its Local Food for School Program, Local Food for Child Care Program and Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. More than 40 state and tribal governments had signed agreements with the USDA to participate in the programs this year, which would have provided funds to buy locally produced food for schools, childcare facilities and food banks. At the same time, Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have advanced a bill that the Iowa Hunger Coalition warns could place burdensome new restrictions on Iowans receiving SNAP benefits. 

“It’s families who need help who will feel the biggest impact, but it also adds an additional burden to food pantries who are on the frontline, trying to make sure that our neighbors have the food they need and deserve,” Boller said. 

Information about donating to the Team Up against Hunger fundraiser and other ways to support the work of the Coralville Community Food Pantry are available on the pantry’s website.