Volunteer Opportunities

Blue Star Mothers of Iowa are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard, reserves or veterans. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Donate Online

Donations are a great way to support our projects throughout the year. You can contribute any time using our safe, secure Square site.

Care Package Project

The main focus of our year is the annual holiday care package drive. Since 2017, more than 2000 boxes have been sent to deployed servicemen and women around the world. This is a painstaking process for our small group of volunteers, as we not only collect the items for the boxes but must also raise the funds for the postage. 

Hot Rods for Heroes

The 4th annual "Hot Rods for Heroes" car show is on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DMACC in Ankeny (Lot L - 2006 S Ankeny Blvd.) All proceeds benefit the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa and their annual project to send care packages to Iowa troops serving overseas

• Mental Health and substance Peer Support and activities
• Lunch service Monday - Friday.
• Warming and Cooling Shelter from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m
• For Mental Health - see Capstone BH link
• Laundry Program: Must meet certain criteria. Sponsored by Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Free to those who qualify.
• Help with Community Resources

Court Appointed Special Advocates are ordinary people who care about children. They volunteer their time to support and advocate for children who currently have a case in the Child Welfare System.

CASA Volunteers amplify the voices of children who are currently in the Child Welfare System. You'll learn your role through comprehensive training, and then you'll be assigned your own case. A coach and a CASA coordinator will be there to support you along the way as you advocate in court for your assigned children.

At Food Bank of Iowa, we believe no one should have to go hungry. We gather and distribute more than 1.5 million pounds of nutritious food each month to 700 partners across 55 Iowa counties, providing assistance to those who need it most.

We recommend calling a pantry or partner before you go to check their hours and any requirements they may have.

FIND FOOD ASSISTANCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY https://foodbankiowa.org/find-food/

Learn about food programs for Jasper County Schools

We are a group of heroes who donate our time and resources for children fighting medical battles.

Support and education about SIDS in Iowa. Grief Support.

The Iowa SIDS Foundation is dedicated to providing emotional support to SIDS and SUID families, to educating Iowa families, healthcare professionals and childcare providers on SIDS and safe sleep practices, and to supporting medical research into unexpected sleep related infant deaths. 

The Iowa SIDS Foundation was founded by parents for parents. In 1993, three parent support groups formed the Iowa SIDS Alliance. In 2004, this group transitioned to the Iowa SIDS Foundation becoming a 501c3 non-profit organization. The service area for the Iowa SIDS Foundation includes all 99 Iowa counties.

Your donation with LifeServe will help save your neighbor, a friend, family member or a stranger in your community!

Looms of Love is a new and exciting project spearheaded by a friend of Newton CUCC and involves the entire community coming together to create sleeping mats for those who find themselves homeless.  These mats are made from used plastic bags - like those you get from the grocery store, and are woven into 5'x3' mats using a large wooden loom.  Currently members have been saving their bags and will receive training shortly on the weaving process.

Donation: plastic grocery bags

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest. grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans. We offer free mental health support groups, classes, and presentations, along with free one-on-one support.

For information and support call: 515-292-9400

If in Crisis - Link to resources if you or a family member is in crisis.

Orchard Place provides a safe environment for children and their families to heal, find hope, be empowered, and build resilience to overcome mental health adversity.

With the help of our professional staff, volunteers, individual, and corporate donors, Orchard Place provides a cornerstone of mental health services for children including residential, outpatient, in-home, community-based and care coordination programs.

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa fulfills its mission by leading child abuse prevention efforts in Iowa through:

• Advocacy – advancing the cause of child abuse prevention among legislators, administrators and professionals.
• Awareness – informing the public about the effects of child abuse and methods to prevent it.
• Assistance – offering organizational development, program guidance and grant management to local partners.

Child abuse is preventable. Prevent Child Abuse Iowa recognizes it will take Iowans working together to ensure children are raised in safe, nurturing environments. That’s why we proudly lead and inspire others to create a state free from child abuse.

Rebuilding Together volunteers will participate our annual 2024 Rebuilding Days. Volunteers will complete critical home repairs to help more than 100+ low-income families throughout Greater Des Moines.

We utilize over 700 volunteers for these projects. We join together to revitalize our city and help our neighbors stay safe, healthy and dry.

Examples of home repairs that may be provided: repairing or replacing flooring, windows, steps, wheelchair ramps, stabilizing a shower, kitchen cabinet installs, removal and install of back steps, landscaping, and repainting of exterior and many more. These improvements will enable the families to live in a safe and healthy home.

We offer hospice care and comfort tailored to you and your family’s needs. Our goal is to help you focus on your quality of life, and to not be limited by your diagnosis. At St. Croix Hospice, we’ll ensure that hospice care is provided to you in a way which brings dignity, respect, and compassion on your terms. We reach out to patients who may not normally seek out end-of-life care, and never turn away anyone who is unable to pay for hospice services. Visit or call us at our local branch today.

Established in 2011 by a cancer survivor, Strands of Strength (SOS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide new wigs free of charge to cancer patients in financial need and suffering hair loss due to treatment. The wigs offered by Strands of Strength disguise hair loss, decrease feelings of vulnerability, and provide greater self-esteem, hopefully resulting in the personal strength needed to successfully battle the disease.

• The Commodity Supplemental Foods Program (CSFP) provides supplemental food and nutrition education for the elderly ages 60 and over at no cost.

• Volunteering, Also, Mentoring and Americorp information. 
• Mission: To improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. 
• Vision: To create an Iowa where all citizens are empowered through service to meet community challenges and make lives better.
• About Volunteer Iowa: Volunteer Iowa (The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service) is part of a network of state service commissions throughout the United States that exist to foster a bi-partisan state-level commitment to advancing service initiatives as well as developing, communicating, and promoting a statewide vision and ethic of service. This state agency is responsible for coordinating programs and activities formerly conducted by the Iowa Office on Volunteerism, which was launched in 1978 by Governor Robert D. Ray.

Home Care

Palliative Care

Hospice

"We honor veterans."