MATURA News

2026 News

April 7, 2026-LIHEAP Update

There's still time to apply for LIHEAP. We are accepting applications through April 30, 2026. Approved households receive a one-time payment to help with this winter's heating cost. Visit our Find US page for contact information for the MATURA Outreach Center in the county you reside in to apply.

March 10, 2026-Embrace Iowa Update

Applications for Embrace Iowa closed Feb. 27, 2026. The committee is working to review and process applications as quickly as possible.

Reminder: Winter moratorium protections end April 1, 2026. Heating and electric providers may soon begin sending disconnection notices to households with past-due balances. While crisis assistance may be available, it cannot be guaranteed, so we encourage households to reach out to their utility providers as soon as possible.

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE for MATURA WIC • Child Health • 1st Five

215 N Elm St. Creston, Iowa 50801, Thursday, March 26th, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Come celebrate with us! Family & children welcome! Open to ALL community members! Come see our NEW space and learn about local community resources. Enjoy refreshments, meet our friendly staff. Family & children welcome. Enter your name for a chance to win one of our FUN door prizes!

January 29, 2026-MATURA WIC, BFPC, CAH, and 1st Five Offices Moved

MATURA WIC, BFPC and CAH office moved into the MATURA main building in Creston from Howard Street into the space previously used by IowaWORKS. Phone numbers remain the same. New address is now 215 N. Elm Street. They have been continuing their WIC clinics throughout the move. 1st Five has moved internally into the 215 N. Elm Street office as well.

The 1st Five/WIC/CAH office will be open to the public beginning February 2nd and future Creston WIC clinics will be onsite at their office.

2025 News

December 1, 2025-Embrace Iowa Update

MATURA Action Corporation is currently accepting Embrace Iowa applications through February 27, 2026. This funding source operates because of contributions from The Des Moines Register and passed on through Community Action agencies.

Embrace Iowa helps to fill in the gaps not covered by other programs by providing up to $750 to pay for things like:

Appliances
Mattresses or bed
Winter coats or boots
Medical expenses, dental expenses, and other health care costs
Prescription medications, in particular to people facing life threatening conditions
Eye glasses
Car repairs or tires if car is needed for a job or to go to medical appointments
Home repairs
Even rent or utilities if the family has gotten behind

November 3, 2025-Thanksgiving and Christmas Programs

Contact the MATURA Outreach Center in the county you reside in to see about Thanksgiving and Christmas programs available.

November 1, 2025-LIHEAP Update

Applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has opened up to all households. Visit our Crisis, LIHEAP & Weatherization page for more information. Moratorium protection begins November 1, 2025 and ends April 1, 2026 for households that are LIHEAP approved for this winter season. We do remind households to continue paying their bills as crisis assistance may not be available in the spring.

October 1, 2025-LIHEAP Season Begins Today

Heating season is here! Applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are available to households with someone over the age 60, if someone is disabled, or if someone has a disconnect notice. Visit our Crisis, LIHEAP & Weatherization page for more information.

September 4, 2025-MATURA 60th Anniversary

MATURA is celebrating its 60th anniversary today! Come join us for this outside event on the east side of our main building, 207B N Elm Street, here in Creston. Come for a light meal and walk around to see what resources our partners have to better our community.

August 8, 2025-Save the date!

September 4, 2025, MATURA will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in September. Join us for food and get information about MATURA and some of our partners -- SIRHA, Crossroads, Connections Area Agency on Aging, Greater Connections Childhood Development Center, SWICC ECE/PAT, Crisis Intervention and Advocacy, Public Health, and Creston Animal Rescue Effort.

July 31, 2025-IIAGP and DCA Update

NOTICE: As of August 1, MATURA Action Corporation, will no longer be administering the Individual Assistance Grant Program (IIAGP) or Disaster Case Advocacy Program (DCA). Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) are taking over the administration of both of these programs. To learn more, please visit https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/disasters or email individualdisasterassistance@iowa.gov

May 1, 2025-May is Community Action Month

Help us celebrate May is Community Action Month. Together with over 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the country, MATURA is committed to its mission: MATURA Action Corporation partners with the community to provide quality programming for families and individuals in need, assisting them in achieving self-sufficiency, in strengthening families and in improving their quality of life.

MATURA News/Archive

March 18, 2023-Former Fiscal Officer Passed Away

It is with heavy hearts that we share that a former Financial Officer for MATURA, Janice Ritter, has passed away. Janice retired in 2010 after serving as our CFO for 33 years. Our condolences go out to her family and loved ones.

July 24, 2012-Former Executive Director Passed Away

It is with heavy hearts that we share that our former executive director, Ron Ludwig, has passed away. Ron retired in January 2021. Our condolences go out to her family and loved ones.

April 8,2019-MATURA Adams County Outreach Center Moved

MATURA's Adams County Outreach location has moved! Stop and see us! MATURA Adams County Outreach Center, 1402 Hull Street, Corning, IA 50841. Hours: Mondays,Wednesdays,Fridays 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

June 28, 2017-MATURA Ringgold County Outreach Center Moving to New Location

MATURA's Ringgold County Outreach Center is in the process of moving to their new location: 306 South Garfield Street, Mount Ayr, IA. They will open July 3, 2017.

November 1, 2013-MATURA Union County Outreach Center and FaDSS Moved

The MATURA Union County Outreach Center and FaDSS have moved to 207 N. Elm Street in Creston. Their phone number has changed to 641-782-8431. Though the Thrift Store has closed, the Food Pantry will continue to operate.

April 29, 2013-MATURA Has New Logo

MATURA Action Corporation has a new logo, thanks to Taylor Powers, a student at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) and Linda Dainty, Art & Design instructor at SWCC. MATURA contacted Linda Dainty in November to see if she had students who would be interested in helping us come up with a new logo.

April 14, 2012-Clearview Apartments Damaged by Tornado

A tornado struck the northwest section of Creston, Iowa. The Clearview Apartment Complex, owned by Iowa 34 Housing, lnc. at 1013 Manor Drive suffered a direct hit from the tornado. The complex, managed by MATURA Action Corporation, experienced extensive damage and was deemed by local officials as not habitable and structurally unsafe on 4/15/2012. The Iowa 34 Housing Board met on May 15, 2012, and voted not to rebuild.

April 12, 2011-MATURA Lenox Neighborhood Center Closed

A tornado went through Lenox and caused structural damage to the MATURA Neighborhood Center in Lenox. It was decided to close the MATURA center since MATURA has in place an Outreach Center in Bedford to cover Taylor County.

1986-MATURA Central Office Moved

MATURA moved their central office to 203 West Adams Street, Creston.

1986-MATURA Offices Moved Due to Fire

MATURA suffered from a big fire and everything was lost. MATURA moved to the former Smith Bros. building. CETA team moved to Highway 34 building as there was not room in the smaller building for all staff.

1965-MATURA Action Corporation Incorporated

MATURA was funded in 1965 by the Regional office of Equal Opportunity. MATURA Action Corporation was organized by its Articles of Incorporation on September 14, 1965. An Executive Board was selected. This Board was selected from the counties of MATURA Action Corporation. The first central office was located above the Iowa State Savings Bank in Creston, at the corner of Maple and Montgomery Streets.