Guide to Volunteer Opportunities

We’ve dipped our toes in Des Moines’ volunteer opportunities as a team recently, and also individually through other roles. We thought it’d be helpful to put together a list of volunteer opportunities on our radar around the Des Moines area. Here’s the list!

Education

If you have a passion for working with kids and education, the metro area has a great variety of options. Whether it’s putting together a literacy kit, reading to elementary students, or after-school interactions, these school-based options have got you covered!

Book Buddy

Photo Courtesy of United Way of Central Iowa @unitedwayci

Book Buddies is a one-on-one reading program that pairs preschoolers with adult volunteers for regular reading sessions. Help students build strong pre-reading skills and enjoy a few fun stories while you’re at it! Sessions take place all over the metro on weekday mornings, and volunteers commit to at least one session per week. If you are a book lover looking to nurture a budding reader, check this one out!

Literacy Kits

Photo Courtesy of United Way of Central Iowa

Think book subscription boxes but for kids. Grab a few friends for a fun day of assembling literacy kits for young readers! Collate materials, assemble the box, and write personal notes of reader encouragement to create a fun unboxing experience for childhood readers.

Power Read

If you are looking to do a little good during your lunch hour, consider volunteering for Power Read! Volunteers are paired with elementary school students to provide one-on-one reading attention to struggling students.

Junior Achievement

Photo Courtesy of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa

Help nurture the future generation with Junior Achievement of Central Iowa! This flexible opportunity places volunteers in K-12 classroom settings where volunteers facilitate learning experiences. Not an educator? Don’t worry! Junior Achievement provides the training and materials to maximize the impact professional volunteers have on young students.

Connection

If your strength is connecting with people one-on-one, the organizations in this category may be a great match for you!

Mentor Iowa

If you want to make a friend and make a difference in a child’s life, Mentor Iowa may be for you! Mentors come from all different backgrounds with a wide variety of knowledge and skill sets. Mentorship can be a big commitment not everyone has the schedule to accommodate, so if you are still looking to support the program, Mentor Iowa has group volunteer, event volunteer, and board service opportunities.

Best Buddies

Best buddies is another way to make an impact on a one-on-one basis! Get involved through mentoring a person with a disability, providing friendship and social mentorship. Looking for another way to get involved? Attend an event or consider donating to the program!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa

Transform lives through one-to-one mentorship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa! Des Moines Girls in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties can sign up to mentor a child, build real relationships, foster growth, and make a long-lasting impact on mentees in the community.

Girls On The Run of Central Iowa

Girls on the Run has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire all girls to build their confidence, kindness and decision making skills. We volunteered with their 5K last year handing out water at the aid station. Such a fun event! They use volunteers year round at their events!

OneIowa

Thrift Stores

Thrift stores offer an easy way to support your local community by patronizing them, donating items, or volunteering your spare time.

Many Hands Thrift

With five locations scattered around the Des Moines area, Many Hands Thrift Market is the perfect opportunity for any frequent thrifters to help curate local thrift shops. Support Many Hands by lending a few hours on the weekend (and get a first look at the items hitting the racks!).

EveryStep Giving Tree Thrift Store

Volunteer your time at the EveryStep Giving Tree thrift store in a variety of roles or donate your gently used items! All proceeds from EveryStep go toward the nonprofit’s mission of providing health care and community services during life’s most difficult moments.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Maybe building a house isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse… but you still want to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Make a difference at the ReStore by volunteering in the store, processing donations, or assisting with events!

Des Moines Institutions

You’ve likely visited many of these organizations near downtown Des Moines – experience them in a new way from a volunteering perspective.

Des Moines Public Library

Calling all Des Moines Girl book lovers! What better way to volunteer than to be surrounded by books? Organize and arrange, help visitors find books, and lend a hand with seasonal programs and activities at any of the Des Moines Public Library locations around the metro.

Des Moines Art Center

Art lovers and appreciators, give back to the community while surrounded by art at the Des Moines Art Center. Give your time on a regular basis or volunteer at a specific event! Volunteers help with educational programming, museum tours, and event support.

Des Moines Symphony

Photo Courtesy of Des Moines Symphony

If you are a lover of the arts, then volunteering with the Des Moines Symphony may be right up your alley! Volunteers staff information tables, lend a hand with events, and give their time while enjoying music. Sign up for the Des Moines Symphony emailing list to get notified of opportunities, or check out their website for current sign-ups.

Des Moines Arts Festival

Photo Courtesy of Des Moines Symphony

The Des Moines Art Festival is a summer staple in Des Moines. Experience the festival in a new light by volunteering! The festival takes place at the end of June each year, and volunteers are essential to putting on a successful event. Plus, volunteers get a free t-shirt, drinks, and snacks to keep energy up throughout the festival.

Des Moines Farmer’s Market

Photo Courtesy of @dtfarmersmarket

The Downtown Farmers’ Market is an iconic weekend event in the summer and autumn months in downtown Des Moines. Help make the event possible by giving your time to help with set-up, tear-down, and running the Market. Sign up to support Meals From the Market and collect fresh food to provide to members of the Des Moines community.

Furry Friends

If you have a soft spot for critters, these volunteer opportunities are sure to warm your heart. 

Blank Park Zoo

This is definitely the wildest volunteer opportunity in the Des Moines metro! Zoo volunteers have a variety of opportunities to give back, from caring for the animals, to supporting the zoo’s conservation and education efforts, to working events, and more!

Animal Rescue League

If you are pet lover, an animal lover, and committed to helping furry friends find their forever home, consider volunteering at the Animal Rescue League. There are many ways to support the awesome work of the ARL, including (but not limited to) administrative work, adoption support, animal care, and more!

Furry Friends Refuge

AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport

Help animals in need by becoming a volunteer with AHeinz57! On-site volunteers take care of animals and prepare them for the foster homes. Foster volutneers provide care to those animals, and adoption and home visit volunteers make sure the animals go to safe and loving homes. That’s not all! The AHeinz Team also needs support with grant writing, fundraising, graphic design, photography, events and more!