Urban Bicycle Food Ministry rolled up to the site of a homeless encampment recently only to find out it had been removed by city workers.
UBFM is a nonprofit agency that delivers food and personal items to the homeless by bike and car in the Des Moines area every week.
"I was shocked," said ministry volunteer Teresa Gallentine.
It is frustrating that the camp they served is no longer there, volunteers said.
"I understand the city has to do that sometimes. I don't understand why in the middle of winter would they do that," Gallentine said.
A representative from the city's neighborhood inspections division said they respond to such homeless camps when they receive complaints.