Community Outreach Opportunities
Edmunds School
Thanks to everyone who donated backpacks to the students at Edmunds School in Des Moines. A note from Christina Mueller who organized the backpack drive: "I hoped for 50 backpacks fro the students and when I arrived to pick them up, I was amazed to see how God provided above and beyond. Through your generous giving 118 students who had neither backpacks nor supplies for the upcoming school year, will now be able to start it successfully. On my way to Edmunds, I stopped by a Burundi family's home to drop off backpacks to all four of their kids who are in school. The parents, who do not have money to provide shoes, clothing, and sometimes food for their family, were so overcome with thankful hearts as they watched their children pick out a backpack. The children were jumping up and down when they found out that I had backpacks for them. Thank you for giving hope to the families, sharing God's love with them, and by sharing what God has blessed you with to touch their lives."
Chainsaw Team— www.valleychainsaw.org
Be part of a team from Valley Church to respond to natural disasters. A fully equipped trailer provides the necessary tools to have an effective impact. Training is required. The work is physical; the impact eternal.
To Volunteer: Contact to seek training opportunities.
Contact: Director Dirk Roghair (707.4430)
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Freedom for Youth— www.freedomforyouth.org
Freedom for Youth works with homeless/at-risk teens. They also offer a free store with food and clothes once a week for the neighborhood. They focus on skill development for life work.
To Volunteer: Volunteers of all types are needed with a willingness to hang out with teens. Some specialties they need include teaching Bible studies; teaching carpentry, metal works, or mechanics; leading pottery, art, sewing or gardening classes.
Contact: Mark Nelson (282.4822)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes-- www.iowafca.org
Working with coaches and students to bring the love of Jesus through athletics on campuses and in the community. Community involvement includes inner-city sports leagues, athletic camps during the summer and much more.
To Volunteer: Those with or without athletic ability or training are needed. Currently seeking volunteers for the summer inner-city baseball league.
Contact: Dave Turnball (727.1868)
Serve Our Youth— www.serveouryouth.org
Serve and support Iowa's high-risk youth through mentoring programs, visitations, spiritual guidance and provision of special needs at the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center and Transitional Youth Center in Des Moines.
To Volunteer: Desire to help high-risk youth; orientation and training will be required.
Contact: Shane Vander Hart (866.620-9037)
Ruth Harbor— www.ruthharbor.org
A Christ-centered home, programs and comprehensive services for women and teens with unplanned pregnancies resulting in a positive life change.
To Volunteer: A wide variety of volunteers are needed year-round including office help, special events, residence and mentoring assistance, home maintenance and prayer support.
Contact: Sandy Braziel (279.4661)
Hope Ministries— www.hopeiowa.org
Provides Christ-centered help for the hurting men, women, children and families of Des Moines and Central Iowa; help for the homeless, hungry, those in recovery, hope for the hopeless. They support multiple facilities including Bethel Mission, Door of Faith, Hope Family Center, and more.
To Volunteer: Volunteers of all types and ages are needed at the various facilities and throughout the community. Serve as individuals or groups.
Contact: Erin Dobraska, Church Relations Coordinator (264.0144)
Interfaith Hospitality Network— www.dmihn.org
Supports families with children that are facing homelessness with shelter, meals and case management.
To Volunteer: Staff support, hospitality and transportation are some of the many volunteer needs.
Contact: Jim Cain (277.7051)
African Fellowship
A Valley church ministry that meets in the Chapel Sundays at 4:30. Guided by African believers leading in worship, fellowship in Swahili and prayer.
Contact: John Berglund (226.9973)
Kids Against Hunger, Meals from the Heartland – www.mealsfromtheheartland.org
Helping to feed the starving children of the world by packing food to send to needy families; internationally and nationally.
See NBC News segment at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11766092
To Volunteer: Individuals or groups of all ages, any time of the year.
Contact: Dave Bradley (866.654.0202)
Operation Christmas Child– www.samaritanspurse.org
Featured ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Donations of gift-filled shoeboxes are sent to needy children around the globe.
To Volunteer: Year-round volunteers are needed for prayer support. Seasonal volunteers, individuals or groups, are needed in November and December each year for collection and processing of the gift boxes.
Contact: Jean Lounsbury (224.9137)
Campus Crusade for Christ— www.ccci.org
Working with college students, business leaders and churches to help fulfill the Great Commission of building up and sending out workers to the lost people of the nations.
Contact: Kirk Johnson (987.8601)
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America's Family Coaches - www.thegreatmarriageexperience.com
6 Secrets to a Lasting Love; podcast, books and conferences.
Contact: Dr. Gary & Barb Rosberg (334.7482)
