Opportunities From: United Way of Central Iowa

Organize a donation drive as a group to collect items for our necessities pantry, which provides emergency items for the people we serve through our Des Moines programs. Contact the volunteer coordinator to see what items are needed during the time you plan to host the drive.

Current DSM Needs: 

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!

Tutoring volunteers support former refugees as their develop their English language and conversation skills, study for their U.S. Citizenship Exam, or work to improve their job skills. Meetings take place at times that work for both student and tutor. Tutoring sessions can take place at LSI's office on University Ave or virtually. Training and support provided - education experience is a plus, but not required.

Key responsibilities

Time commitment

Help a newly arrived family feel at home in our community by participating in LSI's Immigrant and Refugee Community Services Donation Drive! LSI provides basic home and personal items to ensure newly arrived individuals and families have the resources they need to be successful in our community. LSI will give these donated items to families who can use them to feel safe and secure in their home.

Greatest needed items are:

-Shampoo/Conditioner

- Deodorant

- Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

-Dental Floss

- Diapers

-Other babycare items

- Laundry and/or dish soap

- Household cleaners

Please drop off new items to LSI's 3200 University Ave location during regular business hours or contact claudia.schmugge@lsiowa.org to schedule.

LSI's Global Greens program reconnects former refugee farmers with the land as they build their new life in the U.S. Through Global Greens, farmers access space to grow food, learn more about U.S. agriculture, and start their own business by selling produce at our Farmers' Market and in our CSA.

Volunteer groups are a big help at the incubator farm in keeping shared spaces tidy and accessible so farmers can focus on their own plots of land and growing their businesses. Volunteers help with light maintenance and farm chores like weeding, clearing the area around the well, drying garlic, and other seasonal projects to help staff and farmers. Opportunities available Wednesday through Sunday spring through fall morning, afternoon, or evening.

If your work team, religious community, book club, or other group are looking for a community service activity where you will get some fresh air and get your hands dirty while helping others, contact us to schedule a time! volunteer@lsiowa.org

LSI’s Global Greens agricultural programs coordinate land access, production education and business development training for refugees in the Des Moines metro who want to reconnect with the land.

Some refugee families want to grow food for home consumption. Thanks to partnerships with the City of Des Moines, community organizations and private landowners, we help connect refugee families to small garden plots near their homes.

Volunteer support expands staff capacity to support gardeners' success. Currently the greatest need is to fill water tanks at urban gardens near the zoo, Drake neighborhood, and near the fairgrounds weekly so gardeners have water for their plots. If you can get to at least one of those locations weekly, we'd appreciate your help filling the water tanks!

Once trained by staff, schedule is flexible and volunteers can help at a time that is convenient to them.

LSI's Community Based English Language Leaning program empowers immigrants and refugees with numerous accessible online and in-person English classes led by knowledgeable, compassionate teachers. Participants gain language and social skills along with cultural awareness that enable them to quickly gain employment, integrate, and thrive in their new communities. LSI also has programming specifically for people over the age of 60 working towards their citizenship with extra support to foster community connections, improve quality of life, and work towards the goal of US citizenship.

How Volunteers Help:

Classroom volunteers assist the teacher in ensuring all students get the most out of class by helping with demonstrations, leading small group activities, working individually with students who need extra support, and more. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers at the Polk County Senior Center work with participants on a wider range of activities from English to art class to billiards tournaments.

Time Commitment:

Volunteers generally commit to one day/class per week for one session.

Current needs for general program:

Mornings Monday through Thursday with Senior Program

Morning 9:30-11:30am Friday for CBELL

Evening 5:30-7:30 pm Monday and/or Wednesday for CBELL

LSI's Global Greens program supports farmers who are former refugees as they build small businesses and find a path to sustainability through farming. The Global Greens Farmers' Market takes place in the parking lot of Polk County Public Health's building at 1907 Carpenter Ave each Saturday throughout the summer so farmers have a place to sell their locally grown produce.

Volunteers help with set up and/or tear down to help transform the parking lot into a market and back again each week.

Sign up for available shifts here

Purpose:

LSI's Senior Immigrant and Refugee Program serves people over the age of 60 working towards their citizenship with extra support to foster community connections, improve quality of life, and work towards the goal of US citizenship. Volunteers lead and support in classes focused on English and Citizenship to support participants towards those goals. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, participants meet at the Polk County Central Senior Center for supplemental activities like art, tai chi, and tutoring to supplement Monday/Wednesday class offerings and support socialization.

Key responsibilities

Adjust plans, techniques, and/or approaches to meet the learning styles of the students and follow the instruction of the ESL Activities Specialist with the ultimate goal of helping students become independent learners

Time commitment

LSI's CSA is a way for Des Moines area eaters to support former refugee farmers starting their small business. Volunteers can help by getting the food organized and ready for pickup.

CSA packing happens on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the summer. . Volunteers can also help with transporting produce to our pick up locations around the metro.

Volunteers also pack and deliver monthly food boxes year round to former refugee seniors to help alleviate food insecurity. This generally happens the third Monday and Tuesday of each month.