• Food Drive

  • Donation drives directly impact the lives of the people we assist by helping us feed and provide the basic care items needed for them to live and be work ready. This is also a great way for you or your organization to give back to our community, and can help rebuild someone's life as they move from crisis to self-sufficiency.

  • When thinking of items to donate, consider what your family's favorite foods are - these are likely the same items our clients would like to have. 

  • Most needed items: ​Canned Vegetables, Cereal, Peanut Butter, and Canned Fruit. 

  • View all other accepted items. 

  • To sign up to for a drop off time, click here. 

    • Reminder: Closed on MLK Day, and Saturday and Sunday​.

    • After signing up, drop off procedures will be sent.  

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• No-sew T-shirt bags

  • Due to the increased demand on our pantry, we are in need of bags. Making no-sew t-shirt bags is a great project that you can do from home and allows you to re-purposes an old t-shirt​. No-sew t-shirt bags are sturdier than plastic bags, can hold more food items, and be re-used.  Many of our clients don't have access to a vehicle and have to carry their groceries. These bags can hold a significant amount of food, and are preferred by our walking clients. 

  • Directions​

    • Start by cutting the sleeves off of the shirt. 

    • Next, cut out the neck of the shirt. Instead of cutting the neck exactly around the stitching, you can cut a little bit lower down into the shirt so that the opening of your tote bag is large enough to get stuff inside. 

    • Cut fringe along the bottom, about 3 to 4 inches long and about 1 inch wide. Make sure that you’re cutting through both the top and bottom layers of the t-shirt as you go. 

    • Then, start tying your fringes together in a double knot.  

    • Last, to strengthen and secure the bottom of the bag, tie the top fringe from one knot to the bottom fringe of the knot next to it, essentially making another row of double-knotted fringe that closes up the holes between the first set of double-knots.

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• Facebook Fundraiser

  • You can raise money and awareness for Bidwell Riverside Center directly through your own Facebook page. Funds are vital to help us continue working towards a vision of a future where no one lives in poverty and every person has the opportunity for a positive future.

  • Directions:

    • Log into Facebook, and click Fundraisers in the left menu of your News Feed. You may need to click See More.

    • Click + Raise Money.

    • Select Bidwell Riverside Center as your Nonprofit or Charity.

    • Once you select Bidwell Riverside Center as your charitable organization, fill in the fundraiser details and choose a cover photo.

    • Click Create​​

  • Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and follow us on Instagram to help us spread the word about the much-needed services to central Iowans living in poverty. 

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Save this image to share on your personal social media, and be sure to tag Bidwell Riverside Center!

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• Toiletry Drive

  • We are almost always in need of all types of toiletries. Many of our clients consider toiletries as luxury items - you can brush your teeth without toothpaste, you can shower without soap, etc. 

  • Most needed items: ​Feminine Hygiene Pads, Laundry Detergent, Toilet Paper, Soap (bar or liquid), Hand Soap or Body Soap, Shampoo, Dawn Dish Soap, Size 4, 5, 6 diapers and Baby Wipes.

  • View all other accepted items. 

    • To sign up to for a drop off time, click here. 

    • Reminder: Closed on MLK Day, and Saturday and Sunday​.

    • After signing up, drop off procedures will be sent.