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Volunteer Opportunities

A variety of opportunities are listed below, but your opportunities are not limited to just those listed below. Some opportunities are once per year while others are ongoing. There is usually much more information available than we can post here. Use the contact information to get more details.

Anyone wishing to post information about volunteering may contact one of our Silver Cord Coordinators:  Will Dotson (ACHS) via email and Nick Nelson (AHS) via email.

You will receive your Silver Cord at Senior Spotlight Night.  If you are unable to attend you will then receive your Silver Cord during graduation practice.

Volunteer Opportunities

Iowa State Fair - Little Hands on the Farm - August 11-21
Little Hands on the Farm is designed for children ages 2-10 to teach them the importance of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives. Volunteers will receive admission to the Fair, parking and a volunteer t-shirt for their four-hour commitment. Each group volunteering will need a group leader; this person will be the point of contact for the Fair and will receive all volunteer materials including admission tickets, parking passes and t-shirts. Those material packets will be mailed beginning in mid-July.

To help safeguard all persons in attendance to the Iowa State Fair and pursuant to Iowa law (Iowa Sex Offender Registry 692A.113), the Iowa State Fair will be conducting background checks on all volunteers 18 and older. Information obtained will be handled by the Iowa State Fair in a confidential matter.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Wynn  or call 515-401-1544.

Volunteer for Iowa State Fair with VolunteerLocal – simple volunteer registration

Meals from the Heartland - 15th Annual Hunger Fight - Aug. 31 - Sept. 3

Meals from the Heartland is excited to announce details about the upcoming 15th Annual Hunger Fight, which will return to Hy-Vee Hall after a two-year hiatus. The event runs from August 31 to September 3 and volunteer registration is open now and can be found at the link below.

This annual event had been held in downtown Des Moines every year since 2008 until the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in 2020. Meals from the Heartland made adjustments to continue to feed the starving in the midst of the pandemic by holding the 2020 and 2021 Annual Hunger Fight at its West Des Moines Packaging Center, incorporating a new bulk-packaging procedure that enabled fewer volunteers to package more meals!

Join us August 31 – September 3 at Hy-Vee Hall, 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines. Many 2-hour shifts will be available. Sign up individually or with your business, church or civic group. Volunteer registration is available here.

Des Moines Menace Fall Girls Soccer Tournament - Sept. 17-18

We are looking for a field Marshall for our JFG Fall Girls Soccer Tournament Sept. 17-18. A field Marshall duties would include, sitting at one of the games, calling an ambulance for emergencies over to your field if needed, directing traffic on where each game is if people ask questions, and send in the scores of the games you are assigned to.

Hours are 8am-6pm. Email angela.knies@menacesoccer.com if you are interested!

Can Play Programs - various dates

Courage Adaptive Programs

Courage Ankeny Baseball: Join participants who are eager to have fun and learn new baseball skills! Running July 11- August 1.  https://signup.com/go/dQZXCQE

Courage Tennis/Golf Camp: Join participants who are ready to learn new skills in tennis and golf! Running July 13- August 3. https://signup.com/go/FkPGOwv

Courage H.E.R.S. Softball Program: Join our female participants as they learn new softball skills in our girls only program! Female volunteers only. Running Saturdays from July 16- August 6. https://signup.com/go/yHUxHSu

Courage Urbandale Bike/Baseball: Join participants eager to learn how to ride their bike as well as those ready to learn new skills in baseball! Running July 16- August 6. https://signup.com/go/umHrtCi

Courage Waukee Baseball: Join participants eager to learn new skills in baseball! Running July 16- August 6. https://signup.com/go/oAujbBw

Opportunity No-cost Programs

Opportunity Summer Camp: We are looking for volunteer coaches for our 2022 week long Opportunity Summer Camp. Join 1st through 6th grade participants who are eager to have fun and learn new skills and techniques! Running from August 15-19. https://signup.com/go/NpLcPoz
Iowa Gardening for Good - Summer 2022
Open every Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm for anyone that wants to show up during any part of that time range.  Groups are scheduled by appointment during the week with an average of 2 groups per week, but it varies.  You do not have to be part of a group to come.  We have hosted groups as big as 150 at a single time.  Kids of any age are very welcome, but need their parents or guardian to supervise them. While we welcome people to come as often as they want, we only ask for people to come for a single time.  This is a great way to get exposed without any long term commitment.

Iowa Sports Foundation - July 27-31

For the first time in the history of the Iowa Sports Foundation, we will be hosting the national Olympic-style sports festival, the State Games of America, July 27-31, 2022. This summer, the State Games of America will take place of the Summer Iowa Games for most sports. SGA will offer over 40 sports and we anticipate hosting over 16,000 athletes from Iowa and across the country. Our largest team sport is soccer and the largest individual sports will be bowling, figure skating, track and field, and pickleball. Due to the scale of this national event, we will have to utilize facilities in the Des Moines Metro for sports like swimming and figure skating.

With this event being even larger than the Iowa Games, we anticipate needing around 3,000 volunteers. There are several different opportunities to come and help with the event

View Open Positions

Or you can call Discover Ames to speak with Carly or Kim about registering.

Foster SQUAD
Foster SQUAD is an organization that aims to support foster parents and children in our community. Every other month Foster SQUAD holds a support group for foster parents. We are looking for 2 volunteers every other month to provide child care during this support group. This volunteer opportunity would be available every other month for an hour and a half in the evening.  If you are interested in volunteering for the Foster SQUAD please email Tara.
Des Moines Botanical Gardens - Summer

Summer Teen Volunteer Opportunity

Help needed with event set-up and tear-down during the summer months! Help a non-profit and enjoy membership at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

EXPECTATIONS:

  • Assist regularly with set-up for Music in the Garden (summer concert series), Thursdays, 3 – 4:30 PM (should be able to assist a minimum of twice a month June 16 – August or through September if possible)
  • Help with other set-up or tear-down requests as they come up. Ex: June 9, Garden Party tear-down (9 – 10 PM).
  • Activities may include setting up or taking down tables, chairs, wiping off tables, setting out signage, running extension cords, tent set-up, etc.

BENEFITS:

  • Volunteer in a beautiful setting (indoors and out!)
  • Build skills – become more involved and learn about event management if interested
  • Receive a student membership to enjoy the Botanical Garden (free admission, free concerts and more)
  • Volunteer with a friend! Two volunteers are needed for each Music in the Garden set up
  • Flexible scheduling (pick your Thursdays to help through your personal volunteer schedule)
  • If involved in Silver Cord – earn your hours!

To apply please fill out a Volunteer Application. Questions? volunteer@dmbotanicalgarden.com or call 515.323.6293

Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Des Moines Ronald McDonald House is committed to improving the quality of life for children and their families through a variety of solutions. Hundreds of volunteers who share our concerns provide thousands of donated hours per year to help us achieve our goals.

Have any questions in regards to our volunteer opportunities? Please feel free to call (515) 243-2111 or email volunteer@rmhdesmoines.org.

Volunteer and Ronald McDonald House Charities

Candeo - Serving Individuals with disabilities

Candeo is a non-profit organization with flexible options where students can choose their level of engagement with our clients. Many of our clients are looking for someone to hang out with or a mentor who will commit to seeing them. Volunteer opportunities may include playing board games, cooking, book reading or assisting with yard work around our clients home. This opportunity is in alignment with Candeo’s mission, to inspire individuals in service to achieve their personal goals. Please contact Gerald Cofie or sign up here.

Individual Band Lessons

Are you an accomplished band student that would be interested in delivering remote individual lessons for your younger peers? Please contact Christian Baughman.

Contact Us

William Dotson Profile
Student and Building Support Specialist