Volunteer Opportunities
Our volunteer centers are open in Des Moines and Ottumwa. We need you now more than ever! Learn more about how you can support our vision of a hunger-free Iowa.
Volunteer In Person
We welcome individual and group volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer as a group, please fill out our group volunteer form. You can count your hours toward school or work service, like Silver Cord, but not court-ordered community service.
Food Sorting
You’ll label, count and box donated food so we can distribute it. Here are some examples of what you’ll do:
- Pack BackPack sacks
- Sort food drive donations
- Check dates and food safety of food drive items
- Bag bulk produce
- Repackage bulk rice, pasta or crackers into family-sized bags
- Box up like items into equally weighted boxes
- Sort bread
- Pack family boxes
Qualifications:
- Minimum age: 10 years
- Volunteers ages 10 – 15 years must be accompanied by an adult/guardian who is also registered for the shift.
- Able to stand, move, bend and twist for the duration of your shift.
- Able to read printed dates on packages and weight on scales.
- Lift a minimum of 10 pounds. Some positions may require lifting up to 40 pounds
Skills-Based Volunteering
You’ll put your talents and experience to work for us. Opportunities are diverse and can be tailored to match your skills. Some common needs include:
- Data entry
- Drivers for large vans
- Administrative assistance
- Special events support
Please complete a skills-based volunteer form so we can match you with the right opportunity.
Volunteer from Home
You can help from home or virtually anywhere by sewing T-shirt tote bags or creating inspiration cards for our BackPack Program™.
Then, deliver these items to our distribution centers in Des Moines (2220 E. 17th St.) or Ottumwa (705 W. Main St.). We’re open 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mondays–Thursdays and 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Fridays.
BackPack Program Inspiration Cards
We distribute more than 4,500 BackPack sacks for elementary students each week. These bags include nutritious, kid-friendly food for the weekend, plus an inspirational message. We need help creating these inspiration cards for kids and their families.
DIY T-Shirt Tote Bags
As the need for food increases, we need bags to support mobile pantries and drive-through school distributions. It’s easy to sew the T-shirt tote bags we prepack with food for these programs. All you need is a sewing machine, heavyweight cotton T-shirts and a few other common items.
Questions about Volunteering?
Contact Senior Volunteer Training and Development Manager Michaela Devaney Lowe at mdevaneylowe@foodbankiowa.org or 515-867-2886.