Volunteers are needed to assist with picking up food donations for the Families Forward Bidwell Pantry at various retailers and grocery stores. We are looking for volunteers that could help on a regular basis (either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). Volunteers should be 18 years old or older.
Hours available for this position are:
- Fridays from 9:00am - 11:00am
- Mondays from 8:30am - 10:00am
- Thursdays from 8:00am - 11:00am
Volunteers would help in the following way:
- Accompany volunteer or staff to designated grocery stores and retailers.
- Load and unload food items into vehicle and pantry.
- Maintain accurate records of food donations.
- Store food items properly.
To Volunteer: Contact Missy Reams for scheduling at missy@familiesforward.org, or by phone at 515-989-8404, or by text at 515-346-8895.
About Bidwell Pantry: At the Bidwell Pantry, we provide basic necessities to families in need. Help families “shop” through our free building for food, personal care items, clothing, and household items. Serving up to 6,700 individuals per month, Bidwell provides hope to families and helps them bridge the gap, so that they can spend their hard earned money on other necessities besides food and clothing.
About volunteering: A volunteer orientation is provided when you first arrive to help, including an overview about poverty in the Des Moines metro. We provide a unique cultural and economically diverse volunteer experience.
Information for First-time Volunteers: Click here for information about parking, how to check in when you arrive, and much more.
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.
