How You can Help

There are many ways to support the mission of CISS. Volunteers can contribute to big projects, complete small tasks, 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

Please complete your volunteer registration and explore our volunteer opportunities below. Contact volunteer@centraliowashelter.org if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you!

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.

Day Room Attendant

Regular (preferred but not mandatory)
3
Daily 8am-10am, 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm

As a Day Room Attendant, you will create a welcoming environment for our clients, build relationships and be a listening ear to individuals. You will facilitate games and activities and provide companionship. Have a favorite board game? Feel free to bring safe and appropriate games to play with clients!

Donation Sorting and Organizing

Once
2-4
Monday-Friday 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm

Sort, Organize and Restock our clothing pantry donations to ensure clothing is in good condition and seasonally appropriate.

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
You & your group!
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
Anytime 9am-5pm

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.

Schoen Family Greenhouse and Agrihood

Once
5
Tues/Thurs 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm

Assist Greenhouse Manager in maintaining a full functioning greenhouse and agrihood here in central iowa! Some tasks may include seeding plants, watering plants, harvesting and trimming plants as well as maintenance. To coordinate a different volunteer time that works best for you, email volunteer@centraliowashelter.org.

Serve a Meal

Once
4-10
Lunch 11am-1pm, Dinner 6pm-8pm

Sign up your group to serve Lunch or Dinner from our kitchen. Register to prepare a meal, prepare and serve a meal or to serve a meal! If you choose to prepare a meal, please plan to feed 250 individuals.

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.