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How You can Help

There are many ways to support the mission of CISS. Volunteers can help on big projects, serve on committees, or help with daily needs either on a regular basis or once in a while.

We recognize that many volunteers come to us with special skills and can design a volunteer opportunity for you that’s based on your specific interests. For example, volunteers from Emergency Management Planners, Integrated Resources Corporation, and Johnson Communications have given back to CISS by helping our team transition to more effective technology.

Volunteer Opportunities

Serve Dinner

Sign up to serve meals to guests of our shelter. Please be prepared to serve around 250 people each night. View our Meals Info sheet for rules, facilities details, tips, and suggested recipes.
Serving Meals Info & Rules

Housing / Job Application Assistance

If you’re a people person with basic computer skills, consider assisting our clients with filling out housing and job applications and assisting clients with searching for jobs and housing online.

Serve Lunch

Come alone or gather a group of 5- 10 friends and help us serve lunch to the community. Weekday lunches are prepared by our staff, we just need extra hands to help serve it!

Computer Lab

Give clients the opportunity to use our computers by monitoring the classroom space. Can also assist with housing/job applications during this time.

Day Room Attendant

Sometimes just having someone to talk to can make all the difference! Socialize and get to know our clients while they spend time in the day room. Games are always welcome!

Hygiene Window

Help our clients access personal care and hygiene products upon request. Great for organizers and friendly volunteers.

Teach Or Share

Do you have a skill, hobby, or area of interest that you could teach or share with our clients? We offer special programming throughout the week focused on different areas to promote self-sufficiency for our clients.

Donation Sorting

Calling all organizers! Sort incoming donations (clothing, household, and personal products) according to the CISS donation policy. Help restock the clothing closet as needed.

Ready to Volunteer?

Signup for any of the opportunities described above, or check out some of our other specialized volunteer needs listed below.

Signup to Volunteer

Other Opportunities

Please fill out our volunteer application here or check out our opportunities below and contact Sadie Nymeyer at snymeyer@centraliowashelter.org or (515) 280-2988 if you have any questions.

Volunteer Application
  • = frequency of commitment
  • = number of volunteers needed
  • = time slots available
All
General
Creative
Food
Transport

Bulletin Boards

  • none
  • up to 3
  • anytime
Are you crafty and creative? Our bulletin boards need some TLC to make sure the information we share with our clients is updated and eye-catching so our clients will take a look at it.

Clothing Closet

  • Regular (weekly or monthly)
  • 1 per shift
  • Mon-Sun: 9AM-12PM, 3PM-6PM
Open the clothing closet and facilitate the voucher check out system for client shoppers. Keep the clothing closet organized and stocked with incoming donations.

Food Pantry

  • Regular (weekly or monthly)
  • 1 per shift
  • Mon-Sun: 9AM-12PM, 4PM-6PM
Make food accessible in our community! Run the computer intake system to check clients into the food pantry and assist them in getting their monthly food allotment.

Food Rescue

  • regular
  • 1 - 3
  • TBD
Many places in the community donate food to CISS, and we try to get to as many of them as possible. Use your own vehicle to pick up food donations from restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, events, etc. to bring to the CISS kitchen.

Group Activities

  • TBD
  • how many do you have?
  • TBD
Do you have a group that would like to volunteer at CISS? Groups can help us accomplish big tasks that our staff can’t tackle on their own like sorting and organizing donations, cleaning days, garden work, and more!

Office Work

  • Regular depending on task
  • 1 per task
  • depends on the workload
Assist staff with a variety of office work like writing thank you notes, sorting daily mail, filing paperwork, and data entry. Depending on task, this can be done offsite.

Special Skills

  • TBD
  • you
  • TBD
Do you have a skill or interest that you could share with our clients in a different capacity? Let us know, and we can tailor a volunteer opportunity specifically for you.

T-shirt Tote Bags

  • none
  • depends on workload
  • anytime
Turn old t-shirts into reusable tote bags using a super simple pattern. This is a great team building opportunity! This can be done onsite at CISS or offsite wherever you have space available!
Central Iowa Shelter & Services

Contact Us

1420 Mulberry Street,
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.284.5719  |  515.883.1692
info@centraliowashelter.org

© 2023 Central Iowa Shelter & Services
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