Opportunities From: United Way of Central Iowa

Thank you for your interest in preparing dinner(s) for the families staying at New Directions Shelter. 

Dinners are primarily needed on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Dates Dinners Are Currently Needed:

January

February

This opportunity involves preparing (or buying) and donating a well-balanced, child-friendly dinner. The meal needs to feed up to 20 people (mostly children). Food needs to be dropped off by 4:00 - 4:30 pm on the designated day. Meals are just dropped off; there is no serving involved. We do have the ability to heat/re-heat as needed. Drinks and/or desserts are not required but are appreciated.​More information will be provided to you after sign up, or contact Melanie Wright if you have any questions.

Office Phone 515-244-9748 | Email: melanie@familiesforward.org

About Families Forward:  Families Forward (previously Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill) has four main programs: Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter (emergency housing), and The Home Connection (long-term housing). For over 100 years, our mission has been to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.​

Volunteers are needed to help children ages 1 to 17 with crafts, games, and activities that our staff will plan. Our shelter provides emergency housing for up to 8 families with children at a time. Most children's activities have between 5 to 15 children in attendance.     

Volunteer Responsibilities and Activity Information:

Volunteers:

Questions? Contact Missy Reams at missy@familiesforward.org or by phone at 515-989-8404.

About volunteering: A volunteer orientation is provided when you first arrive.

Information for First-time Volunteers: Click here for information about parking, how to check in when you arrive, and much more. 

Note: This program does not accept court-ordered community service.

Large Group Volunteering for Children's Events: If you have a larger group that would like to help with a children's event, please email Missy Reams at Missy@familiesforward.org.

About Families Forward: Families Forward (previously Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill) has four main programs: Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter (emergency housing), and The Home Connection (long-term housing). For over 100 years, our mission has been to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.

Happy Holidays! 

This season is all about giving, and together, we can bring comfort and joy to those who need it most. 

Join our Holiday Donation Drive by contributing items for families in our community. Your generosity helps ensure everyone can share in the warmth of the season. 

Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. We proudly serve all 99 counties in Iowa through our programs in Early Childhood, Services for People with Disabilities, Mental Health, Immigrant and Refugee Services, and Foster Care and Adoption. 

We would love your support during this joyous time! Please drop off donations at LSI’s office, 3200 University Avenue, Des Moines. 

Our clients’ biggest needs include: 

Hygiene products: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, deodorant, hand and body soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products

Cleaning products: laundry detergent, trash bags, cleaning wipes, dish soap, sponges, toilet cleaner, paper towels

Home items: quilts for twin XL, full, or queen beds

Baby care: diapers (all sizes), baby wipes

School supplies: backpacks, notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, English language learning books

Other: Walmart or gas station gift cards

Global Greens Needs: Seeds, Gardening gloves, Hand gardening tools, Shovels,Hoes, Garden rakes, Digging forks, Buckets, Watering cans, Gas cards, Hoses

One-time needs:  Landscaping trailer (1) Push mower (we could take a couple) Weed trimmer (we could take a couple)

Thank you for helping LSI share the spirit of the season with Iowa families!

This holiday season, we warmly invite you to help bring happiness to club members in need through our annual Embrace-A-Family program. There are two ways to get involved: 

Donors will be paired with families to select gifts from club members’ wish lists. 

Alternatively, you can make a financial contribution, and our team will handle the shopping for you. 

If you’d like to shop for our club members, you can sign up with this form: BGCCI Embrace-A-Family Sign Up – Fill out form

Embrace a family details: 

Donors are asked to spend around $80 per child. 

You will be paired with a family and provided with wish lists from the club member(s) shortly after signing on. 

Gifts must be dropped off by 12/12. 

Drop off at 1421 Walker St. Des Moines. (Parking across the street.) 

You can drop off anytime Monday-Friday from 9:00-4:00. Reach out if this doesn't work for you. We can arrange a different time or come to you. 

Leave gifts unwrapped. Donations of wrapping paper and tape are also welcome! 

If you have any questions, or would like to make a financial donation instead, reach out to Ben Elliott at belliott@bgcci.org or 515-205-8901 

HOLIDAY GIVING

The holiday season is a perfect time to give back to the community, and your gift to Oakridge Neighborhood can make a lasting impact on families and individuals. Here's how you can make a difference:

GIFT CARDS & CASH DONATIONS

Donations of cash or gift cards to Walmart,Hy-Vee, Dollar General, etc. provide vital assistance for families to use for food, clothing, and essentials.

SHOES & WINTER GEAR

Give the gift of warmth this season with new shoes, sweatshirts, coats, underwear, and socks for the children and families at Oakridge. All sizes welcome from youth to adults. 

HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS & PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

Please help our low-income families have a brighter holiday season by donating household products, personal care items, diapers, and blankets.

Support local youth and young women this winter by donating essential cold-weather items. We’re accepting new and gently used coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens in sizes ranging from infant to adult.

Drop Details

Can't volunteer? You can still make a difference!

Support the Young Women's Resource Center's participants by donating NEW baby essentials.

You can also shop from our Target Registry. 

Drop Details

The Young Women’s Resource Center offers in-school and after-school groups where students can connect, learn, and grow in a safe and supportive space. Many of our participants face food insecurity, and snacks make a real difference in helping them stay nourished and focused. We’re collecting individually packaged grab-and-go snacks for our groups.

Suggested snack items include:

·        Uncrustables

·        Granola or Fruit Bars

·        Cheese Sticks

·        Beef Jerky

·        Applesauce Pouches or Cups

·        Juice Boxes

·        Chips

·        Crackers

·        Cookies

Spread Holiday Cheer to Cancer Patients and Families this Season!

Join us in making the holidays a little brighter for cancer patients and their loved ones. Below are a few meaningful ways you, your family, friends, or colleagues can give back and make a real difference this season.

If you’re interested in participating, please reach out to confirm details and coordinate dates and times. Thank you for helping share hope and comfort this holiday season!

✨ Ways to Give Back:

Host a Warmth & Comfort Drive
Collect cozy blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for cancer patients traveling to treatments this winter.

Gift Cards for Good
Gather gas, grocery, and restaurant gift cards to help patients and families with transportation and meals during treatment.

Hope Lodge Supply Drive
Support guests staying at the Hope Lodge in Iowa City—individuals and families who must travel far from home for cancer treatment.

Suggested Donation Items:
Community Pantry Items

Kodiak single-serve oatmeal cups

Clif protein bars

Gluten-free single-serve snacks

Canned chicken or tuna

Single-serve rice bowls or packets

Gift Cards

Grocery store gift cards

Gas station gift cards

Paper Products

Bowls, plates, paper towels, tissues, etc.

Purchase grocery store coupons for clients served across our program areas to alleviate the growing burden of food insecurity. Gift cards will be distributed at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry and through the Community Resource Coordination Program, which serves a broad range of clients. 

Gift cards can be purchased as a virtual or physical gift card. Physical gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to: 

Catholic Charities 

attn: Rebecca Kannegiesser

601 Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

Stores to purchase from: 

Fareway: https://www.fareway.com/

HyVee: https://www.hy-vee.com/aisles-online/search?search=gift+card

Aldi: giftcards can bepurchased in person.

Recipient email for gift card purchases: charities@catholichcharitiesdm.org  

Purchase gift cards for clothing and other essential household items to help out clients prepare for job interviews, upcoming life events, or moving into more permanent housing. Gift cards will be distributed across our program areas in Central Iowa. 

Gift cards can be purchased virtually or in-person. Physical gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to:

Catholic Charities

attn: Rebecca Kannegiesser

601 Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

Stores to purchase from: 

Kohls: e-gift cards

JCPennys: e-gift cards

WalMart: e-gift cards

Target: e-gift cards

Recipient email: charities@catholiccharitiesdm.org

We get a lot of foot traffic in our office and are working to create and supply a free, take what you need essentials bin for people in need. 

We are looking for donations of the following items:

Donations can be brought to our office at 1618 6th Ave Des Moines, IA 50314 

Thank you!!

Join us for a high-impact volunteer experience! Help package bulk meals that go directly to feeding centers, getting food to children as quickly as possible.

This volume meal packaging project uses the same ingredients and process as our traditional meal packaging, just on a larger scale. Instead of packaging 216 meals into 36 small bags, volunteers package 216 meals into one bulk bag, allowing us to move more meals faster and farther.

Volunteers work together in a team-oriented, assembly-line setting, ensuring every ingredient is accurately measured and packed. We’ll need a few extra hands for lifting, typically 1–2 people per line lifting 10–25 lbs each, so please note that moderate lifting is required.

It’s a hands-on, energizing way to make an immediate impact and help families and communities in need.

We’re looking for 15–24 volunteers per shift to engage in this high impact challenge! 

To register or see shifts, please use follow our sign-up LINK. 

Volunteer Waiver Notice:
By volunteering with Meals from the Heartland, you acknowledge and accept our waiver of liability. Participation is voluntary, and Meals from the Heartland is not liable for any injuries or incidents that may occur during your service. Your registration confirms this understanding

Gather your fellow elves and join us at Momentum Art Studio for a merry day of making magic behind the scenes. With holiday tunes playing, you’ll help tidy the studio, organize supplies, and prep canvases with gesso, ensuring they're as white as the freshly fallen snow. Perfect for groups of 3–5 who love teamwork, laughter, and spreading cheer while making a real impact in the arts community.

Momentum Arts, a program of Community Support Advocates, was created in 2004 to support artists who identify as having a disability. In addition to an annual art showcase, the program offers free workshops, studio space, supplies, mentorship, and professional development. You can visit Momentum Arts in studio #109 at Mainframe Studios or online at: momentumartistcollective.org/

Help us provide warm coats and winter-wear for those struggling financially in our community.  We believe everyone has the right to be warm and be protected from the cold Iowa winter weather. The following new and gently-used items are needed: 

Drop Off Location:  1203 Hartford Avenue, Des Moines IA 50315

To schedule a drop off, contact Missy Reams at missy@familiesforward.org or call 515-989-8404. Please allow 48 hours for scheduling.

About Families Forward:  Families Forward (previously Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill) has four main programs: Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter (emergency housing), and The Home Connection (long-term housing). For over 100 years, our mission has been to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.​

One of our greatest needs at Ronald McDonald House is for home-cooked meals for our families. After a long day at the hospital, families are truly grateful for a hot meal waiting for them. This is an ideal volunteer opportunity for groups of family, friends, corporate teams, or teens looking to fulfill community service or Silver Cord hours. We have two Houses where you can volunteer: our House near Blank Children’s Hospital and our House within MercyOne (located on the North Side, 4th Floor).

To choose a date, please visit http://www.rmhdesmoines.org, scroll down to click on "Meal Providers," then select "Sign Up Here" to access our meal provider schedule.

FAQ

How many people can participate in our group?
We limit groups to 10 people due to kitchen size. For groups larger than 10, we suggest splitting up: 10 people can cook, and the rest can assist with housekeeping.

What do we need to bring?
We provide all cooking tools and utensils. You’ll just need to bring the ingredients. You’re also welcome to use any canned or dry goods we have available. Feel free to call us to check what’s on hand. *Please keep in mind, Per RMH Global Guidelines, we cannot accept homemade food prepared outside a licensed kitchen.

How much food should we make?
Please prepare a meal for 35 people for each House. If you sign up to make a meal for both Houses we ask you make a meal for 70 people.
To keep a consistent schedule, we ask that meals be ready by 6 p.m.

What time should we arrive?
The volunteer kitchen is reserved from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you’d like to come earlier, please call ahead to confirm kitchen availability.

Can we stay and visit with families?
You’re welcome to stay and visit with families during the meal. However, many families return later in the evening, so we leave the meal out for an hour and then store it as leftovers.

What should we make?
Feel free to be creative and have fun with your meal! There’s no need to worry about dietary restrictions.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, please reach out to Caroline at volunteer@rmhdesmoines.org or call 515-243-2111.

Thank you for helping us support families in need!

At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa, we proudly serve families from Iowa, across the U.S., and around the world. Our pantry provides meals, sweet treats, snacks, toiletries, and other essentials for these families during their stay-and we would greatly appreciate your support!

If you’re interested in organizing a Pantry Wish List Drive or setting up a donation drive, please reach out. We can share details about the pantry and toiletry items currently needed.

If you’d prefer to donate directly from our wish list, please visit our website at www.rmhdesmoines.org. Our wish list covers items needed for both of our Ronald McDonald Houses. For donated items, we kindly ask that they be shipped to:

1441 Pleasant St
Des Moines, IA 50314

This helps ensure the right items reach the correct House location.

For questions or to arrange a drop-off time, please contact volunteer@rmhdesmoines.org or call us at 515-243-2111.

Thank you for helping us make a difference for families in need!

With the influx of medication donations and increasing need for medication assistance, we need your help. Our volunteers assist in logging incoming donations into our inventory.  Learn more about how you can make a difference in our community and sign up to volunteer at SafeNetRx today!