Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome and thank you for your interest in volunteering at Bidwell Riverside Center - Hawthorn Hill. Volunteers are the heart of our organization, and are vital to help us serve vulnerable Iowans.
Food Pantry
1-10 volunteers at a time
Volunteers are needed to:
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Pull and box up food orders
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Re-stock grocery aisles
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Organize food recovery
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Sort & organize donations
Other Information:
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Volunteers must be 8 and older.
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We provide masks, but they are not required if you are fully vaccinated. To see all of the safety steps, click here.
Location:
Bidwell Riverside Center
1203 Hartford Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50315
Children's Activities
5-10 volunteers at a time
Volunteers are needed to host children's activities at our shelter.
Suggested activities include:
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Holiday crafts
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Story Times
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Outside Games
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Painting
Event information:
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Dates are flexible.
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Plan for 10-25 children.
Other Information:
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Masks are required.
Location:
Hawthorn Hill
3001 Grand Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50312
Shelter Dinners
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Volunteers are needed to help provide dinners for families staying at our shelter. Dinners are needed on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The meal needs to feed up to 10 people. Food needs to be dropped of by 4:00pm-4:30pm. No serving is involved; families serve themselves. Drinks and desserts are appreciated.
To schedule a time to help, contact Melanie Wright.
Email: melanie@hawthorn-hill.org
Phone: 515-244-9748
Location:
Hawthorn Hill
3001 Grand Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50312
Shelter - Cleaning
1-2 volunteers at a time
Volunteers are needed to help with the following in our shelter:
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clean restrooms
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clean kitchen
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organize refrigerator
Times vary. Mid-morning and afternoons work best (when the kitchen isn't in use).
To schedule a time to help, contact Missy Reams.
Email: mreams@bidwellriverside.org
Phone: 515-244-6251 Option 5
Text: 515-346-8895
Other Information:
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Masks are required.
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Volunteers must be 12 and older.
Location:
Hawthorn Hill
3001 Grand Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50312
Shelter - Organizing
1-2 volunteers at a time
Volunteers are needed to organize our donation area. We provide basic necessities to the families staying in New Directions Shelter and The Home Connection program.
Volunteers would be organizing clothing, personals/toiletries, feminine hygiene products, diapers, cleaning products, school supplies, food items, and much more.
To schedule a time to help, contact Missy Reams.
Email: mreams@bidwellriverside.org
Phone: 515-244-6251 Option 5
Text: 515-346-8895
Other Information:
-
Masks are required.
Location:
Hawthorn Hill
3001 Grand Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50312
Painting
4-10 adult volunteers
Volunteers are needed to paint a couple walls in classrooms. Volunteers would need to commit to 2-3 hours. The time is flexible and can be scheduled:
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Saturdays between 9am-4pm
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Sundays between 12pm-5pm
Bidwell would provide all needed supplies for the paint project.
To schedule a time to help, contact Missy Reams.
Email: mreams@bidwellriverside.org
Phone: 515-244-6251 Option 5
Location:
Bidwell Riverside Center
1203 Hartford Avenue
Des Moines Iowa 50315