Volunteer Project Catalog
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
As we want Elf Day, our Holiday themed Community Event, to be a highlight of our residents year, we we need volunteer support. Let us know if one stands out to you; or, if you have any other ideas! These could either be done on or off site. We just ask that you provide the supplies as we do not have a budget to do so. (Must be 18 years or older to volunteer on site) - Creating 150 Christmas cards for resident’s to receive on Christmas morning – filled with uplifting notes and well wishes - Baked goods (150 servings) – who doesn’t love cookies and sugar loaded items during the holidays?! - 150 Stocking stuffer kindness bags – along with a gift, we would love to extend the Christmas spirit with small goodie bags - 150 Hot cocoa kits – a hot chocolate packet with mini marshmallows and a candy cane taped to the outside (feel free to add a handwritten note). If interested please register for a task below. Donations can be dropped off before December 19th anytime Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. or between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Learn more and take a virtual tour of our campus here: youtube.com/watch?v=YTshFDMScsM&t
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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
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
Provide support by aiding with donation sorting, stocking our pantry, organizing and more! Each of these activities help to ensure that our residents have access to basic need items so that they can focus on working towards housing stability and personal success in a dignified manner. 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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