Volunteer Opportunities

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!

Collect Pop Tabs from soda cans and more to help provide funds for the Ronald McDonald House.

1200 pop tabs will be equivalent to ONE Silver Cord hour. If working with a friend that hour will be split if submitted.

Must deliver pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House and fill out the pop tab form located at the house to receive verification from the charity.

Must email a picture of the pop tabs submitted to the organization to kobrien@waukeeschools.org.

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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! 🙂

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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.

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.

For more information visit https://can-play.org/volunteer/

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.

Start times for non-early out days will be adjusted with arrival time after school hours.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

We are requesting three volunteers for the following dates:
January 29th
February 26th
March 19th
April 16th

Assist dancers with disabilities in a dance program designed just for them.

Volunteers will support the librarian and PTO during the book fair open hours. Saturday 8-12, Tuesday 4-8 and Wednesday 4-6

As a volunteer, you’ll help elementary kids learn and enjoy basketball by assisting with drills, encouraging teamwork, and ensuring they have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. No prior coaching experience is needed—just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to engage with the kids!

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!

Meals Madness is here! Spend your spring break making a difference by volunteering to package meals for those in need. Whether you come with friends, family, or solo, every meal packed helps fight hunger locally and globally. Join us March 17-22 for a fun and impactful week of giving back!

We have an annual fundraiser and have a free kids day. We need help setting up the event, doing the kids day and tearing it down.

Drop-in Activities
Shifts 10:30AM – 1PM and 1PM to 3:30PM – Tuesday to Friday
Shifts 9:30AM – 12:00PM and 12:00PM – 2:30PM – Saturday
Welcome guests, process payment and assist with providing materials and keeping work spaces tidy as guests make an air plant home to take home. This position requires Altru knowledge (payment processing system) or willingness to learn it.

Activities Tables
Shifts 9:45AM – 1:30PM and 1:30PM – 5:15PM – Tuesday through Friday
Shifts 8:45AM – 12:30PM and 12:30 PM – 4:15PM – Saturday
Role is fun for those who are outgoing and enjoy helping people learn. Volunteers serve as activity table leaders, engaging guests to learn about the Parts of Plants, Roots & Stems, Leaves, Flowers, and Seeds. Activities are easy to learn, and volunteers are provided information and talking points in advance. Day of, staff will touch base at the start of the shift to review the activity and answer questions.

Anyone that has previously volunteered can use their online Vic-Net account to sign up for these positions at:
https://www.volgistics.com/vicnet/141178/login .

If wanting to volunteer for just the one time event an application should be filled out online at: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/2096990006 .

If intending to volunteer on a continuing basis an application should be filled out at:
https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1325256960

Do you love Iowa’s outdoors?
Iowa’s parks, trails, wildlife, soil and water are all part of our quality of life and cause for celebration! Help us to connect participants with legislators and meet other Iowans passionate about protecting spaces for outdoor recreation and caring for our natural resources. The day will feature breakfast, interactive displays, engaging speakers and the opportunity to share your own motivations for celebration. Volunteers will be an important part of directing people to the celebration and answering wayfinding questions. This is a great opportunity to connect with others that share a passion of the outdoors.
Please email kleetch@inhf.org to sign up!

Thank you for volunteering for the Twice Blessed Consignment Sale. This is our major fundraiser for the Shepherd’s Flock Early Learning Center.
Variety of jobs: such as hanging and organizing sale items and assisting shoppers during the sale.

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.

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.

Watch children for duration of the meeting. Crafts are provided to those that want to participate in crafts.

As a volunteer, you’ll help elementary girls learn and enjoy different drills, encouraging teamwork, and ensuring they have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. No prior coaching experience is needed—just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to engage with the kids!

– Customer Service with youth, parents and coaches for concessions
– Learn point of sale systems, inventory and teamwork
– Minimal hot food prep
– Volunteer with friends and select your own hours
– Restock cold beverages
– Have fun

As a volunteer, you’ll help elementary kids learn and enjoy soccer by assisting with drills, encouraging teamwork, and ensuring they have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. No prior coaching experience is needed—just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to engage with the kids!

Various tasks related to the execution of track and field events like setting up hurdles, retrieving throws, setting up tents, etc.

Kites on the Green is an annual kite festival which includes public kite flying, professional kite flyers demonstrations, kids kite building, music and more! Lots of help is needed to make this event successful and multiple shifts are available. Among other things, volunteers may be asked to help kids/families build kites, assist at special activities, staff information or donation booths, etc. Johnston Kite’s on the Green is organized by the City of Johnston and the Johnston Public Library Foundation.

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.

The Great Strides walk for Cystic Fibrosis is the annual celebration of all the work done by families and loved ones of those with CF, along with those living with the disease. This year is our 70th anniversary of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s existence and we will be celebrating in full birthday party fashion!

Responsibilities would include helping set up/tear down tents, stages, and walk route signs along with helping direct walkers along the route itself. Food, drink, and snacks will be available.

Watch children while parents attend meeting. Crafts are provided to pass time.

Packet Pick-Up
05/29 3:00-6:00 p.m.
05/30 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
05/30 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Packet Pick-Up volunteers assist with assigning bib numbers and giving out swag. Swag is big to the athletes so they’re surely thank you with a big smile and a high five!
Location
Cowles Commons, Downtown Des Moines

Post-Race Tear Down
05/31 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Teardown crew is responsible for helping to deconstruct DAM to DSM as it is being completed! Teardown will begin as soon as the final athletes leave each section on the race (start-line, aid stations, etc.), and will conclude with areas such as the finish-line, post-race party, merchandise tents, and more.
Location
Specific teardown locations will be assigned day-of.

The Junior Counselor plays an important role in making the camp experience at Living History Farms a fun educational experience! Junior Counselors actively assist Staff Counselors to provide a positive, inclusive, engaging, fun, supportive learning environment, where all feel welcome and valued. Junior Counselors act as role models for campers, while learning and developing their own leadership, creativity, and communication skills.

Applications will close Friday, April 4. 

The Walk to CURE Arthritis is a yearly fundraising event to also help raise awareness of the disease. It is a chance to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who have been diagnosed with a form of arthritis.

The morning will kick off with registration and children’s activities from 9-10:30. The walk and raffle drawings will then take place following.

Responsibilities of the volunteers will vary from greeting guests as they arrive, helping volunteers load/unload their supplies, helping set up and tear down, overseeing children’s activities, etc.

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

Volunteer Job Description – Summer Youth Program Volunteer

Applications for Summer 2025 will be accepted through March 24, 2025.

Volunteers may be teens or adults that enjoy leading and engaging with children. Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide support and lead a variety of programs and activities of the Botanical Garden’s Summer Youth Programming. This may include assisting with summer camps, co-leading youth tours, enrichment programs, garden interpretation, and engaging, and overseeing guests in public garden spaces.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Summer Camp: Act as camp assistants to encourage elementary age campers to engage with the activities led by camp instructors. This may include assisting instructors, supervising free-play time, maintaining room organization, supplies, and cleanliness.

Discovery Tours: Co-lead a pollinator themed interactive tour for a small group of children & their chaperones to introduce them to plants, pollinators, and the Botanical Garden. Prepare materials, welcome guests & go over rules, co-lead the tour (~45 minutes), material clean-up, and supervise free play.

Play Ranger: Welcome, supervise, and engage guests in our Nature Play space. Use checklist to reset and tidy the space between groups/families. Use the provided materials and talking points to engage guests and invite them to participate in a quick (3-5 minute) hands-on learning activity.

Time Commitment:

Training: A single two-hour training session in late May will provide information, talking points, and details for all roles. Date and time to be scheduled based on availability. Training is mandatory for new and returning volunteers but can be rescheduled if needed.

Volunteers are expected to support a minimum of one week/five-days of Summer Camp, five Discovery Tours, and one shift of Nature Play Ranger or a mix of the equivalent (52 hours total).

Summer Camp: Volunteers are expected to support one week/five-days of summer camp. A typical shift of summer camp support is 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Discovery Tours: Volunteers are expected to support a minimum of three tours. New volunteers will be scheduled to shadow a Discovery Tour in early June to gain more experience, and then will co-lead tours the second/third week of June. A typical shift of discovery tour is approximately two hours long which includes preparation/clean-up of space (~15 minutes), co-leading the tour (~45 minutes), and supervising free play after the tour (~60 minutes). Times vary based on the tour schedule.

Play Ranger: Volunteers are expected to support one shift of the Play Ranger role. A typical shift of this role is two hours long and times vary based on the schedule.

Volunteers can self-select shifts that fit their schedule the best!

Requirements:

Age 14 or older.

Have timely and reliable transportation to and from the Garden.

Easily and timely communicated with by email or phone call.

Ability to greet and talk with others in small group settings and project voice when needed.

Show attentiveness and proactiveness during shift and limit phone use to breaks.

Signed guardian acknowledgement for those under 18, completed background check for all.

Attire:

A nametag will be provided and should be worn during any shift.

A Botanical Garden volunteer t-shirt will be provided and is encouraged to be worn during any shift.

Clothing should be free of stains and tears and sandals must have a back or heel strap.

Benefits:

This is an opportunity for growth, leadership, and development. Volunteers in this program should be proactive to get the most out of this experience.

Upon completion of position requirements, One year Individual Plus level Botanical Garden membership
more details: https://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/membership

Gain and improve valuable job skills such as public speaking and collaboration in diverse settings.

A beautiful work environment and fun peers to work with.

Easily complete Silver Cord hours

To Apply:

Complete the Youth Summer Program volunteer application at: https://www.volgistics.com/appform/1387062555

A recommendation by an instructor or other non-related adult is required. This recommendation should refer to applicant’s ability and comfort for any or all specific aspects of this role (natural sciences, public speaking, working with youth, etc.). Possible examples include a neighbor, teacher, coach, or work-related contact. The reference information will be collected on your application and then contacted by Botanical Garden staff as needed.

Applications for Summer 2025 will be accepted through March 24, 2025.

Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be contacted for a quick small group interview scheduled based on availability. All who apply will be notified when positions are filled.

To discuss this volunteer position further, please email volunteer@dmbotanicalgarden.com or call 515-323-6290.

Refer to general description

Use the HERE link to apply

Set Up Crew
06/13/2025
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but you get the satisfaction of building a RipRoar triathlon in one! Set-up for the event will begin the day before the triathlon, taking place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Tasks will be assigned to volunteers’ day-of the set-up.

Race Day Crew
06/14/2025
7:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Hip hooray for race day! The race day volunteer shift runs from 7:15 am – 11:45 am. Volunteers can expect to assist athletes at the start line, guiding athletes along the course, assisting with transitions between legs, and celebrating with us at the finish line! Race day volunteers also receive a free tee-shirt!

Tear Down Crew
06/14/2025
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tear down for this event will begin as soon as the last athlete crosses the finish line. Tear down usually takes about 2 1/2 hours, a time estimate is from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

As a volunteer, you’ll help elementary kids learn and enjoy baseball by assisting with drills, encouraging teamwork, and ensuring they have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. No prior coaching experience is needed—just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to engage with the kids!

As a volunteer, you’ll help elementary girls learn and enjoy softball by assisting with drills, encouraging teamwork, and ensuring they have fun in a supportive and inclusive environment. No prior coaching experience is needed—just bring a positive attitude and a willingness to engage with the kids!

Set Up Crew
06/27/2025
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but you get the satisfaction of building a RipRoar triathlon in one! Set-up for the event will begin the day before the triathlon, taking place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Tasks will be assigned to volunteers’ day-of the set-up.

Water Safety Crew
06/28/2025
7:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Water safety staff is critical to the triathlon’s success, as it helps to ensure that swimmers are completing their race safely! Water safety volunteers include people in the water with guard tubes and volunteers stationed in kayaks/paddleboards around the perimeter of the swim. If you would like to be stationed in the water as a safety boat, and will be providing your own boat/paddle board, please email or text the volunteer coordinator.

Race Day Crew
06/28/2025
7:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Hip hooray for race day! The race day volunteer shift runs from 7:15 am – 11:45 am. Volunteers can expect to assist athletes at the start line, guiding athletes along the course, assisting with transitions between legs, and celebrating with us at the finish line! Race day volunteers also receive a free tee-shirt!

Tear Down Crew
06/28/2025
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tear down for this event will begin as soon as the last athlete crosses the finish line. Tear down usually takes about 2 1/2 hours, a time estimate is from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Waukee Area Arts Council presents the 10th Annual Waukee Arts Festival on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th in Centennial Park. The event will consist of local artists, food vendors, a beer garden, student art, family entertainment, and concerts throughout the day.

Festival volunteers will receive the exclusive and highly coveted ‘Waukee AF’ t-shirt for free! Other food and beverage offers and discounts are being solicited, and a full list will be provided at the event. Students can submit for silver cord hours. Please call your friends and sign up. Give a little or give a lot!