Volunteer Project Catalog
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
We receive food from community partners such as Kum & Go, Fareway and the Food Bank of Iowa. You can help alleviate food insecurity in our home by volunteering an hour of your time to bag up and hand out the recovered food to residents in need of additional support. This opportunity takes place on site at the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus at 2 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
We have a variety of tasks throughout the week that need helping hands to complete. This volunteer opportunity will allow you to participate in a variety of activities to support and uplift those who call the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus their home. Some examples being....donation sorting, assisting with meal opportunities, organizing and cleaning projects, stocking our pantry and more! The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Many of our residents are in need of a hand up as they work towards housing and financial stability. Check out the following ways you can offer a Hand Up, to our folks by providing the essential need items listed below: - Create Change with clean clothing: Clean clothing is a basic human need, not a luxury. At the YSHC, we do have an on-site laundry facility; however, many of our folks, because of transportation or financial barriers, are unable to supply the quarters needed for a load of laundry. We are grateful for the community support we have received in regards to laundry supplies, providing us with ample laundry pods and dryer sheets for laundry kits; however, many folks are unable to use these supplies due to not having the quarters needed for a wash and a dry. One load of laundry is equal to twelve quarters and our dream is that each residents will have access to a laundry kit (twelve quarters, a laundry pod and a dryer sheet) when in need. Would you consider holding a spare change drive at your work, with your friends and neighbors, or reaching out to your children’s sports team or school? - Fill our on-site food/clothing/hygiene pantry: Get together with your friends, neighbors or co-workers to throw a pantry or hygiene drive for our 140 residents! For inspiration and ideas for as to what is needed most in our home, check out our amazon wish list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PP32L4CYOWD3?ref_=wl_share - Set a new resident up for success: When a resident moves in, we are excited to greet and show them to their apartment where they will find a laundry basket filled with all of the essentials they need to feel supported on their first day home. However, we are running low on many of the items needed listed below! Would you consider donating these items for our new friends? The following items make up a basket full of hope, dignity and support! - plate & bowl - laundry basket - knife, fork, spoon - can opener - sponge - dish cloth/towel - all-purpose household spray cleaner - dish soap - 4 rolls of toilet paper - paper towels - plunger - toilet brush - toothbrush and toothpaste - Bible - toilet brush - welcome home card - pot or pan Donations can be dropped off anytime Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. or on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thank you for your support! The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Bingo is a great way to directly connect with our residents and our cause! Often times, an individual or small group will host the bingo night and bring in between 8 – 10 small prizes (ranging in the 5-10 dollar range) and one prize for the blackout round (around the 20 dollar price point). We will provide the bingo set and even bake up some delicious cookies for your bingo night! Popular prizes are things like towel sets, household cleaning items, pots and pans or décor items that residents can use to personalize their apartments! If you have an idea for another game night idea let us know! We would love to hear it! Game nights are always eagerly looked forward too! GAME NIGHTS MUST BE SCHEDUALED AT LEAST 3 WEEKS IN ADVANCE TO PROVIDE PROPER NOTICE TO RESIDENTS. Please reach out to Nick at Nicholas.drahozal@dmymca.org if you have any questions. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
We believe there is dignity in choice! Pop-up shops allow residents to "shop" for different clothing, household, and kitchen items at no cost to them. You would offer support by laying out the items on tables in our dining room and “manning” the shop for around 2 hours, helping folks find clothing and other items that fit their specific size and style! It is a great way to meet the individuals who are directly impacted by our mission and listen to the incredible stories they have to share! Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
We have a large variety of off-site opportunities you can participate in that will make a lasting impact on those who call the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus their home. Check out how you can uplift our residents today! - Handmade quilts/blankets: When residents celebrate their one and five year housing anniversaries we provide them with a handmade quilt or tie blanket made by volunteers within the community. We ask that the blankets are twin or full sized and gender neutral. By participating in this opportunity you will help us celebrate the incredible achievements of our men and women! - Cardmaking: We love handmade cards and they are treasured by our residents. You can help us uplift all residents by making 140 Kindness Cards filled with well wishes and encouragement to create smiles and spread joy in our home. Feel free to attach a piece of candy or hot cocoa packet to the kindness cards as well! - Kindness Bags: It’s fun to decorate bags and fill them with little treats for the residents. Creating and donating these bags are a lovely way for the residents to know that the community cares. Bags can contain things like snacks, hygiene items, handwritten notes or really anything else you can think of that would create smiles in our home. If able, please make 140 bags to ensure that everyone receives one! - Kindness rocks: We have a beautiful courtyard with garden spaces that would be so vibrant with the addition of hand painted kindness rocks. We love the idea that residents can stroll outside and see little pieces of art with positive words and/or pictures. - Recipes for residents: Do you like to cook? Our on-site pantry offers residents various food options to cook throughout the week and cooking inspiration is always helpful! You are able to come in to our home, look through our pantry, and then write up a recipe card that uses at least one item from our pantry. Ingredients should include affordable items found at any grocery store and the meal should be able to be made using a pot/pan or a small toaster oven as we have efficiency apartments. Recipe cards can be made on or off campus – our residents will be thrilled to have new cooking ideas! - Turn a house into a home with art: Look around your home. What do you see? A picture of your loved ones? Maybe you see a painting your children made or one you picked out at the store? Art turns a house into a home, especially if it’s #MadeWithLove. If your enjoy art, consider volunteering your time to create artwork for the YSHC residents. We cannot wait to see what this #ConspiracyOfKindness has in store! Once completed, you can drop off the volunteer project at 2 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Signing up to sponsor and participate in a Tuesday night dinner will give you a chance to directly connect with our residents and our cause. Our #MoreThanAMeal program provides not only a hearty meal to all 140 of our residents but also creates a sense of community, turning our campus into a home for the folks who live here. In order to provide this support for our residents, we rely on a sponsorship of 300 dollars; this allows us to provide a dignified home cooked meal made with love. With a group of ten people, it equals out to only 30 dollars per person! You and a group of friends or co-workers would prepare and serve the meal, followed by the opportunity to get to know our residents stories by sitting down and having dinner with them. It is known to be one of the most impactful volunteer opportunities we offer in our home according to volunteers who have participated in the past! This opportunity takes place each Tuesday between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. - contact Nick, at Nicholas.drahozal@dmymca.org, to sign up for an upcoming meal. The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Just like any home, ours needs frequent cleaning! We will provide the supplies if you can provide your helping hands! The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
A Hunger Free Iowa When Covid-19 hit, Iowa DHS took a look at food insecurity and saw it fit to increase SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, to the maximum allowable per household. This meant that those relying on SNAP received a minimum of $95 more than they were pre-pandemic. This made a huge impact each month and relieved the stress of worrying about food insecurity. As of April 2022, SNAP benefits have gone back down to pre-pandemic rates while food prices are still ascending. In the past month, we have noticed food insecurity in our home on the rise. The number of individuals signing up for food recovery has doubled, and sometimes tripled, since the decrease in benefits. While there has been an increase in our sign-up lists, there has been a significant decrease in the amount of food we are receiving. We need your help to ensure our residents are receiving the food they need to be successful. We are needing quick and accessible meals to offer residents on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s for food recovery. Making peanut butter and jelly, meat and cheese, or any other sandwiches is a great way to support our folks who are signing up to receive food on these days. The sandwiches can be dropped off to us (2 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA) on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be directly in the hands of those in need the very next day. 30 sandwiches is an appropriate amount that allows for everyone on the food recovery list to receive one. The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus is a community solution to eliminating homelessness by providing hope, dignity and support in the form of permanent supportive housing. Our belief that everyone is worthy to live a life of meaning guides everything that we do. We believe in housing first and community next; providing a space where residents feel safe, secure and at home while feeling as though they are a part of the community that surrounds them. Together, staff and volunteers advocate to advance our belief that everyone deserves a place to call home. Volunteers allow us to transgress past basic need services through supporting on and offsite opportunities that better create a dignified and supportive space of stability and personal growth. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
How you can help:
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
We know that your role as a coach will be a big part of the success of the season, if not the most important part. We want you to know how much we value as coaches and are here to help support you however we can in the process. We also know that you will be some of our biggest advocates for our Youth Sports philosophy. A few important things to remember. We believe in: Maximum participation regardless of skill level Teaching sports skills Having FUN (practice and Games) Reinforcing positive sportsmanship Reminding ourselves that there are kids Recognizing where participants are at developmentally (socially, emotional, physical) and meeting them where they are at. “Be who you needed when you were young”
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