Volunteers are essential to the work that we are doing. We provide great volunteer opportunities for those looking for a powerful experience and a way to give back. We want to give you the opportunity to serve, grow, and become a part of our loving community while coming alongside us in our mission to Transforming Together, to be Love in Action, in a broken world!
Volunteer to Help Build Homes, Communities, and Hope!
At Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, we’re all about affordable housing! We build, repair, and supply home materials for low-income homeowners in Polk, Dallas, and Jasper County. However, we can’t do it without your help! Learn how to swing a hammer on our New Home Construction sites or build displays in our Habitat ReStores! There are many ways to help out, and we’d love to have you with us.
Habitat ReStores: Did you know that the Habitat ReStores generate enough income every year to fund more than half of our Habitat homes? As a volunteer, you’ll be helping us process donations, assisting customers, and lending a hand around the store. Flexible, half-day shifts are available Monday–Saturday for ages 14+.
Silver Cord students under 18 years of age will need to volunteer alongside an adult 21+, but can also be approved to complete hours on their own in our Habitat ReStores. Reach out to our Volunteer Engagement Team at 515-218-7731 with questions or to learn how to get started. We hope to see you on site soon! 🙂
The Sprout Garden at Drake University provides programming to the Burt Boys and Girls Club and is used by the Drake curriculum. Produce grown in the garden is donated to neighborhood food pantries, including the Little Free Pantries on Drake’s campus. We have volunteer events throughout the year, including open garden hours during the summer. Please email sprout@drake.edu to arrange a time to help us with weeding. Other tasks are needed at various times of the year (such as mulching, planting, and harvesting). Check out our Facebook page for volunteer events that you may want to join.
Volunteer will help with duties that are needed for that day. This could be steaming clothes and putting on the racks or possibly cashiering or pricing items
We are a thrift store that could use help with different activities that could include steaming clothes, tagging, cleaning home décor, dusting shelves, recovering racks, and cashiering. Everyday our needs may differ based on donations. This is a great opportunity to find what your talent may be in the retail world.
We are seeking teammates for our Adapted Program. Can Play's adapted programs work with our participants with physical, cognitive, emotional, or other special health care needs. Volunteers assist participants with sports and fitness-related activities. No prior sports or fitness experience is required. Can Play staff will be onsite to lead all activities and pair volunteers with participants.
When
4:15-6:00 PM
Where
West Des Moines RecPlex - 6500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines
We use newspapers for our litters of puppies to potty on because it's much safer than puppy pads. We needs students to unfold, stack and then roll the newspaper so we can have the newspaper readily available for cleaning up after the pups multiple times a day.
When
Varies, see information in the description
Where
Pick up newspapers from 1217 Prairie St., Adel, IA, roll them at your home, then return them to 1217 Prairie St., Adel, IA
Contact Rochelle Pettinger by email, rm.pettinger82@hotmail.com or phone, 515-250-0654 to set up times to pick up papers.
Newspapers will be rolled at home and returned to the Adel address when finished.
Full instructions will be given to you at first visit.
Group Service Project (GSP)
What
The Library is looking for volunteers to help with a monthly group service project. We will perform a variety of tasks. No experience or training necessary! Project is for students in grades 9th - 12th. Students are welcome to arrive after the start time, depending on their early out schedule. Please check in at the Children's Desk.
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with sorting donations and organizing our Clothing Closet at Central Iowa Shelter & Services. This involves sorting through donated items, organizing them, and re-stocking our Clothing Closet to ensure it remains tidy and accessible.
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with sorting donations and organizing our Clothing Closet at Central Iowa Shelter & Services. This involves sorting through donated items, organizing them, and re-stocking our Clothing Closet to ensure it remains tidy and accessible.
Our Clothing Closet operates entirely on donations and serves our community, primarily our shelter guests and clients experiencing homelessness. These individuals are our neighbors, many of whom are striving to stay employed or seek employment. The Clothing Closet is essential to their journey, providing them with the necessary attire for daily life and job opportunities.
Tasks Include:
Sorting and organizing donated items in the Donation Closet
Stocking and tidying the Clothing Closet
Ensuring items are in good condition and seasonally appropriate
Interacting with clients to assist them in selecting clothing
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with sorting donations and organizing our clothing closet at Central Iowa Shelter & Services. This involves sorting through donated items, organizing them, and re-stocking our clothing closet to ensure it remains tidy and accessible.
Our clothing closet operates entirely on donations and serves our community, primarily our shelter guests and clients experiencing homelessness. These individuals are our neighbors, many of whom are striving to stay employed or seek employment. The clothing closet is essential to their journey, providing them with the necessary attire for daily life and job opportunities.
Tasks Include:
• Sorting and organizing donated items
• Stocking and tidying the clothing closet
• Ensuring items are in good condition and seasonally appropriate
Your efforts will help us maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for those in need. Thank you for considering this important volunteer opportunity.
WHAT TO SORT AND HOW TO HANDLE ITEMS
• Clothing:
– Stock, fold, and go through all clothing donations
– Acceptable Items: Ensure items are clean and in good condition
– Adult clothing (seasonally appropriate)
– Unacceptable Items: Remove and discard the following:
– Children’s clothing
– Baby clothing
– Winter clothing out of season
– Any clothing with stains, rips, or significant wear
Lunch or Dinner Service @ Central Iowa Shelter & Services
What
Our community kitchen provides fresh and healthy meals to those in need using a combination of ingredients and produce grown on-site, donated or purchased. The kitchen serves breakfast, lunch. dinner and a snack every day.
Our community kitchen provides fresh and healthy meals to those in need using a combination of ingredients and produce grown on-site, donated or purchased. The kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner & a snack, with both lunch and dinner meals including a fresh salad.
The community kitchen serves more than 750 meals each day and is projected to serve 270,000 meals in 2024.
The program is operated by kitchen staff and a network of volunteers, all working together to provide and serve meals. About 55–65% of meals are donated by volunteers, which expands our budget by at least $20,000 per month.
Volunteers & Community Partners interested in helping support Mulberry Street Café can register for either Lunch or Dinner services and denote whether they will be providing the meal, providing and serving the meal, or serving the meal. We ask that any groups or individuals preparing to provide a meal plan for 250 persons. Both groups and individuals are welcome to assist in serving meals.
Volunteers will be asked to greet guests, provide directions, help with art stations (minimal "messiness" expected) and provide general assistance throughout the event.
When
1.5 hours before the performance to 15 minutes after the show has started. 2 hours and 15 minutes total commitment
Discovery Parties take place in the hour prior to a public performance in the Civic Center lobbies and are intended to provide young audiences and their families with interactive experiences that are culturally and/or thematically tied to the performance they will attend. Guests will be invited to explore, learn and create. Each Discovery Party is unique to the performance it precedes. Volunteers will be asked to greet guests, provide directions, help with art stations (minimal “messiness” expected) and provide general assistance throughout the event. The time commitment for volunteers is 2.25 hours + the performance time, which we hope you will stay and enjoy.
Help building supervisors set-up and/or clean up before/after Clive Youth Basketball League games. All dates are on Sundays. Students will help set up or take down chairs, tables, score boards, and sweep floors.
We need volunteers to help litters of puppies residing in a puppy nursery at an approved foster home with Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa. This will include orientation by the foster parent with volunteer helping with cleaning, caring for them, and socializing.
When
Evening; Weekends
Where
Foster pawrent home where litter of puppies reside (Adel, Iowa). Our foster parents name, contact info, and address will be disclosed upon approved volunteer application and signed volunteer acknowledgement by student and/parent guardian..
Hope Animal Rescue of Iowa is 100% foster/volunteer based rescue. We have litters of puppies in loving approved foster homes and at times will need help with the litters. Volunteers must be committed to the humane and ethical treatment of animals when completing all tasks under the direction of our assigned foster parent in their home. It is also expected that the volunteer with puppy pawtrol be engaged in the tasks they are assigned and will not be on their electronic devices while completing silver cord hours with this effort.
Upon submission of our volunteer form, there will be one additional form for the student and parent/legal guardian to sign before being assigned to puppy pawtrol.
Volunteers will help officiate games for our beginner-friendly youth volleyball leagues for Grades 4-5 and 6-7. Volunteers will make simple officiating calls including in-bounds, out-of-bounds, serving errors, etc. and flip scorecards to keep track of the game points. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for as few or as many games as they are available for.
We are looking for volunteer coaches for our 2025 Opportunity Waukee Basketball program. Join 1st through 5th grade participants who are eager to have fun and learn new basketball skills and techniques! Sign up for one date or come each day, whatever fits best into your schedule.
When
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Where
Vince Meyer Learning Center - 430 Ashworth Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before programming starts. Come dressed appropriately to play with kids and be active.
Join participants who are eager to have fun and learn new basketball skills as a volunteer.
We are a Silver Cord approved organization for those high school kids looking to complete hours. Share this information with anyone you think might be interested!
We are looking for volunteer coaches for our 2025 Opportunity Waukee Dance program. Join 1st through 5th grade participants who are eager to have fun and learn new dance skills and techniques! Sign up for one date or come each day, whatever fits best into your schedule.
When
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Where
Vince Meyer Learning Center - 430 Ashworth Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before programming starts. Come dressed appropriately to play with kids and be active.
Join participants who are eager to have fun and learn new dance skills as a volunteer.
We are a Silver Cord approved organization for those high school kids looking to complete hours. Share this information with anyone you think might be interested!
This is a special volunteer opportunity for youth ages 13-17 to get involved at the Blank Park Zoo! Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of areas around the Zoo. This may include: assisting Summer Safari camp counselors, providing guests with directional and educational information about the Zoo, helping to keep the Zoo clean and volunteering during family friendly events! The goal of the Zoo Crew program is to foster personal responsibility, job skills, self-initiative and inspire conservation action for the next generation.
When
Begins 6/1/2025, times vary
Where
Blank Park Zoo, 7401 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315
Zoo Crew – This is a special volunteer opportunity for youth ages 13-17 to get involved at the Blank Park Zoo! Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of areas around the Zoo. This may include: assisting Summer Safari camp counselors, providing guests with directional and educational information about the Zoo, helping to keep the Zoo clean and volunteering during family friendly events! The goal of the Zoo Crew program is to foster personal responsibility, job skills, self-initiative and inspire conservation action for the next generation. Applications are accepted now through March 1. For more information or to apply visit our website attached.
Assist with supervising children while their parents attend ESL Class at the library from 6:15-7:45 on the following seven Tuesdays:
January 28th
February 11 & 25
March 11 & 25
April 15 & 29
The library needs two students per session who enjoy working with children to supervise and play with kiddos in the library while their parents attend ESL classes in our meeting room. If no parents with children attend, there may be craft preparation or other small tasks that can be completed.
Elementary Early Out STEAM Program
What
Assist our Children's Librarian with setting up, running, and taking down the planned program.
We are requesting three volunteers for the following dates:
January 29th
February 26th
March 19th
April 16th
Sugar Creek Pancake Breakfast
What
Some of the duties include set up, clean up, check in table, mixing batter, cleaning tables as needed, pouring OJ, playing with kids in the gym, and assisting the pancake man as needed.
When
8am-12pm
Where
Sugar Creek Elementary, 965 Ashworth Rd, Waukee, IA 50263
We have a pancake breakfast at Sugar Creek and will need several student volunteers. Some of the duties include set up, clean up, check in table, mixing batter, cleaning tables as needed, pouring OJ, playing with kids in the gym, and assisting the pancake man as needed. Thank you!
Volunteers will be needed for a variety of positions both day of the race and a couple days leading up. There is an opportunity for everywhere so please sign up for what you most want to help out with. Thank you in advance!!
Suit up in your favorite red flannel attire and help support the YMCA’s mission to build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all! 🏃♂️
The Red Flannel Run is the longest, consecutively-produced race in the Des Moines area. This is year 36!! Join us this year for the 5K, 10K, or 1-Mile Family Fun Run! There is something for everyone, even your dogs can join in on the fun!
There will be refreshments after the event and time to mingle with others in the community. We can’t wait to see you there!
EMBRACE THE COLD. RUN THE RACE. SUPPORT THE CAUSE.
We need your help! Join Can Play for this fun and competitive three-on-three wheelchair basketball tournament allowing individuals to play from a different perspective. Your help will support our ability to raise funds for underserved youth in our community. We need help keeping the ball in play during the game and/or keeping score for each of the games.
We need your help! Join Can Play for this fun and competitive three-on-three wheelchair basketball tournament allowing individuals to play from a different perspective. Your help will support our ability to raise funds for underserved youth in our community. We need help with registration (checking teams in and helping them find the right court), keeping the ball in play during the game, keeping score for each of the games, and hospitality.
Clive Parks and Recreation is looking for 8 volunteers to help with the Clive 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 8th. The shift would be from 7:30am-2pm. Volunteers will help with tracking score, directing patrons, etc.
Clive Parks and Recreation is looking for 8 volunteers to help with the Clive 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 8th. The shift would be from 7:30am-2:00pm. Volunteers will help with tracking score, directing patrons, etc.
To whom it may concern,
I hope you are having a great day!
My name is Chaim Tillinghast and I work with All Community events and the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K. I wanted to reach out to you as we are looking for volunteers to help with the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K on Saturday, March 15th! Volunteers help to support a great cause, get an awesome event gear item, and lend a hand in allowing participants and themselves to have an inspirational experience they will always remember. Below is some information for this event and please feel free to reach out to me if you’re interested or if you would like to learn more about it!
Event Name: Des Moines St. Paddy’s Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Where: Iowa State Capitol E Locust St. & Pennsylvania Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309
When: Saturday, March 15th 2025
Time: Volunteers arrive on-site at 7:00 am
Our Website: Iowaruns.com
Volunteer Sign Up: https://forms.gle/FN6iom9YiqFqFEg88
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
There are a variety of volunteer positions available including gear check, registration, start line monitors, skywalk guides, stairwell cheerleaders, and assistance with the finish line celebration.
We have a volunteer opportunity! Volunteer at the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb on Sunday, March 30, 2025! The Fight For Air Climb is the Lung Association’s annual fundraising event where participants climb the stairwells of four downtown Des Moines buildings to raise funds and awareness about lung disease and lung health.
Volunteer and cheer on climbers as they tackle the stairs! There are a variety of volunteer positions available including gear check, registration, start line monitors, skywalk guides, stairwell cheerleaders, and assistance with the finish line celebration.
Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt at check in and families are welcome to volunteer together. Sign up with our online Fight For Air Climb Des Moines Volunteer Sign Up Form or email EventsIA@Lung.org with questions.
Volunteer and cheer on climbers as they tackle the stairs! There are a variety of volunteer positions available including gear check, registration, start line monitors, skywalk guides, stairwell cheerleaders, and assistance with the finish line celebration.
We have a volunteer opportunity! Volunteer at the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb on Sunday, March 30, 2025! The Fight For Air Climb is the Lung Association’s annual fundraising event where participants climb the stairwells of four downtown Des Moines buildings to raise funds and awareness about lung disease and lung health.
Volunteer and cheer on climbers as they tackle the stairs! There are a variety of volunteer positions available including gear check, registration, start line monitors, skywalk guides, stairwell cheerleaders, and assistance with the finish line celebration.
Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt at check in and families are welcome to volunteer together. Sign up with our online Fight For Air Climb Des Moines Volunteer Sign Up Form or email EventsIA@Lung.org with questions.
Car Parking: Standing by signs to direct to parking area
Registration: Waukee Raccoon River Valley Trailhead – helping of any of these: sign up of riders/non riders, handing out and help with putting on of wristband/ticket for food and beverage, cinch bag handout, handing out waivers and making sure they are signed
Games: HandleBar Restaurant – putting out of games and helping children/adults with the games
Vendors: Showing area where vendors are to put their tent/table. If needed by vendor, to help them set up.
Clean up: HandleBar Restaurant – Put games away, help vendors tear down if needed, clean up any trash or litter left behind by riders.
SCI Summer Camp Jr. Counselor
What
If you enjoy science, working with children and are 14–18 years old, consider volunteering as a Jr. Counselor! Gain career-building experience assisting with science activities as you learn leadership, communication and teamwork skills. Plus you can earn an SCI membership after 40 hours of service! Please note: A two-week commitment is required from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday.
uties:
Assist Camp Educators in facilitating curriculum and activities in the daily schedule
Support Camp Educators with sorting, gathering and doing inventory of necessary supplies
Serve as support during field trips and transition periods of camp, keeping campers respectful, quiet and on
time in their daily schedule
Responsible for providing care and well-being of campers while participating in programs
Non-profit organizations, share your volunteer opportunities! To ensure your submission will be accepted, read the Silver Cord posting guidelines before submitting your event.
