University Of Iowa College Of Public Health

What does it look like to build public health programs around what a community actually needs? In this episode of Plugged into Public Health, Lauren talks with Zuli Garcia, founder and president of Knock and Drop Iowa. The organization began in Zuli’s garage during the COVID-19 pandemic as a culturally specific Latino food pantry and has since grown into a multicultural organization serving hundreds of Iowa households each week. Zuli shares why culturally appropriate food matters, how Knock and Drop Iowa grew from an emergency response into a nonprofit, and how food rescue and partnerships with local organizations help the pantry serve families across the Des Moines area. The conversation also explores Knock and Drop Iowa’s expansion into health education and vaccine access. Zuli discusses how her own experience with cervical cancer influenced her work around HPV education, screening, vaccination, and patient advocacy, and why making health information convenient, understandable, and culturally responsive