Current Volunteer Opportunities
in Story County
Service Name
Describe your service here. What makes it great? Use short catchy text to tell people what you offer, and the benefits they will receive. A great description gets readers in the mood, and makes them more likely to go ahead and book.
Service Name
Describe your service here. What makes it great? Use short catchy text to tell people what you offer, and the benefits they will receive. A great description gets readers in the mood, and makes them more likely to go ahead and book.
Service Name
Describe your service here. What makes it great? Use short catchy text to tell people what you offer, and the benefits they will receive. A great description gets readers in the mood, and makes them more likely to go ahead and book.
Interested in joining us as a volunteer? Apply today!
ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Support & Services) – Ames
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Office: (Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 4 hr shifts) Answering phones and other admin tasks
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Caring Cards: (At home on your own time) Write letters or cards and send them to clients.
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Handmade Blankets: (At home on your own time) Make blankets for survivors as they rebuild their lives.
AFFORDABLES THRIFT STORE – Story City
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Clerk: (Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM) Sort and price donations.
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION WALK - Ames
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Ames Farmers Market Booth: (Saturday, October 3rd. 2-hour shifts (7:00AM-1:00PM) Distribute Walk to End Alzheimer’s marketing materials. Sitting and walking position.
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Walk to End Alzheimer’s (Saturday, October 10th 7:00am- 9:00am Brookside Park, Ames) Assist with set-up,registration, Alzheimer’s flower garden display, and parking.
Contact Kim at (515) 292-8890 if you have any questions about the opportunities listed below
ANCHORED HOPE – Ames
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Miscellaneous Support: Volunteer needs include mentors, transportation, skills training, and events.
Ballard Community Clothes & Food Pantry - Huxley
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Pantry Assistant: (JUNE & OCTOBER ONLY: Wednesday 5:00pm-7:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm, and Sunday 1:00pm-3:00pm (not fathers day)). Welcome guests, hang and sort clothing, assist customers, and tidy up.
CAMELOT THEATER FOUNDATION – Nevada
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Concessions: (Times/Dates vary) Stock concessions, assist with orders and ushering, and clean up.
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Reunion: The Beatles Concert-Concession Assistant: (Wednesday, September 16th 6:00pm-10:00pm) Stock concessions, assist with orders and ushering, and set-up/clean up.
AMES MAIN STREET -DOWNTOWN
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Fall Harvest: ( Thursday, October 15th, 8:30am-10:00am Downtown Ames) Harvest the potatoes in the 25 planters along downtown Main Street Ames.
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Ames Farmers Market Barricade Monitors: (Saturdays July 11-Oct 17th 8:00AM-11:00AM OR 11:00AM-1:30PM), Will make sure that vehicles do not drive around the barricade. Chair is provided.
CITY OF AMES PARK & RECREATION – Furman Aquatic Center
CENTRAL IOWA RSVP – Story County
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Transportation Program: (Times/Dates vary) Provide occasional rides to medical appointments and essential services for older adults who can no longer drive.
EASTERN STORY COUNTY FOOD AT FIRST – Nevada
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Meal Assistance: (Mondays and Thursdays) Assist with the 400+ free meals. Preparation (2:00 – 5:00 PM), Packing (4:30 – 6:00 PM), Delivery (4:30 – 5:45 PM), Clean Up (5:30 – 7:00 PM).
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Meal Delivery: (1st / 3rd Mondays) Pick-up meals in Nevada deliver to Collins-Maxwell Middle/Senior High School Circle Drive (Maxwell)
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Food Rescue:
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(Mondays in July-August at 1:30 PM) DG Market (Lincolnway, Nevada)
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(Tuesdays in AM) Crumbl (Duff Ave, Ames)
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(Mondays at 10:30 AM) Dollar Fresh (Nevada)
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(Sundays, twice a month at 10:30 AM) Dollar Fresh (Nevada)
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Tech support: (Monday & Thursday 2:00pm-5:00pm) Tech support for Volunteer Matrix software tracking and training for volunteers.
FRIENDSHIP ARK - Ames
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Baker: (Sunday, October 4th) Bakers needed to make baked goods for the Friendship Ark fundraising booth at the Lucky Star Market.
GOOD NEIGHBOR – Ames
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Customer Contact: (Monday - Friday, 1:00 - 4:00 PM) Assist at the reception area, answer phones, assess client needs, and distribute vouchers, must be able to respect confidentiality.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – Ames
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Store Clerk: (Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Greet and assist customers, organize and shelve donations.
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Pick-up & Delivery: (Tuesday through Friday) Load and unload the trucks with donated furniture, construction items and appliances.
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Tool Repair: (Thursday 10:00pm-1:00pm, and Saturdays 10:00pm-1:00pm or 1:00pm – 4:00pm) Repair donated tools, and provide customer assistance as needed.
HARMONY CLOTHING CLOSET – Nevada
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Clerk: (Mondays, 3:00 - 7:00 PM) Welcome customers, accept donations, hang/sort clothing, assist customers, tidy up.
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Clerk: (Thursdays 5:30 PM - 8:00PM) Open for shoppers only during the Nevada Downtown Market. Welcome and assist customers, and tidy up.
HEARTLAND OF STORY COUNTY – Story County
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Commodity Box Delivery: (Once/month) Deliver commodity boxes to seniors’ homes in Story County, pick up at Heartland.
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Friendly Visitors: (Days/times determined by the volunteer & client) Offer a variety of support for home bound clients like reading, playing music, playing games, or simply listening.
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Friendly Phone Pal: (Days/times determined by the volunteer & client) Offer an opportunity for increased social interaction for homebound clients through regular phone calls.
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Adult Day Center: (Monday - Friday 12:30 -3:00) Adult Day Center Activity Assistant will assist with serving snacks, socializing, and supporting scheduled activities such as games, crafts, and group programs.
IOWA ARBORETUM & GARDENS – Madrid
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Gift Shop: (Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Accept admissions, sell gift shop items.
IOWA VETERANS HOME - Marshalltown
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Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.
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Fidget Blankets: (On your own time) Make lap size fidget blankets for Alzheimer’s/Dementia patients.
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Handmade Blankets: (On your own time) Make quilts or crocheted blankets for residents.
MAIN STREET AMES - Ames
MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER – Ames
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Medical Telemetry Support: (Mondays 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM) Provide administrative support, answer phones, and direct visitors.
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Patient Safety (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 2-hour shift between 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM) Visit patients who have been designated at risk for fall and document on a spreadsheet compliance with fall protocol. This position will utilize trained volunteers.
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Pet Enhanced Therapy: (variety of days and times) Volunteers and their registered* dog will visit clients in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit and Behavioral Health.
NORTHCREST - Ames
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Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.
OCTAGON CENTER FOR THE ARTS - Ames
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Art Festival: (Sunday, September 27th, 6:00AM-6:00PM) - Various task with two-hour shifts: Barricade monitor, Set-up & Tear down crew, Children’s Craft helper, Booth Sitter, Hydration Station, and Green Team
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Steam Cleaner: (flexible Monday-Thursday 12:00pm-4:30pm) Steam, hang and label tablecloths.
OVERFLOW THRIFT STORE – Ames
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North (202 S Duff Ave), East (919 E Lincoln Way) & West (4723 W Lincoln Way): (Monday - Friday, 10:00 - 6:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 - 4:00) Run the registers, sort and clean merchandise, and stock donations.
REIMAN GARDENS - Ames
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Butterfly Wing Docent: (Daily, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 2 hr shifts) Monitor the butterfly enclosure and interact with the public.
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Caterpillar Club: (Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM) Lead or assist with a program for birth-Pre-K kids about nature exploration. Set up, clean up, read books, sing songs, assist with activities.
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Garden Guide: (1 hr tours) Guide groups through the butterfly wing, conservatory, and outdoors.
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Indoor Gardening Assistants: (Flexible shifts) Water, plant, deadhead, trim, weed, other projects, etc.
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Indoor Pot Washing: (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) Scrape, soak, and wash plant pots.
Stenciling: (Year-round and at-home assignment) Volunteers cut out stencils for pumpkins.
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Rovers in Reiman: (September 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29th 4:30pm-7:30pm) Assist staff with dog registration, and treat giveaways.
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Seasonal Gardening: (October 14-23rd) Help plant 10,000 tulip bulbs for next spring.
RAISING READERS - Ames
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Reading Buddies: (September 16th - November 19th twice a week at three different locations) - Reading Buddies pairs volunteers with 1st and 2nd grade students to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and foster a love of reading in a supportive setting. Volunteers play a meaningful, hands-on role.
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Story Pals: (September 23rd - December 9th twice a week at three different locations) - Story Pals is a program that provides quality reading experiences for 4 to 5 year old preschoolers and supports the development of language and early literacy skills.
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Playful Pages Family Workshop Greeter : (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM October 26th, and November 23rd at the Nevada Public Library) Volunteers will greet families at the door and check them in, assist with on-the-spot registration, and help with station activities.
RUNNERS UNITED - Nevada
SALVATION ARMY - Ames
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Food Pantry: (Monday - Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 PM) Fill food boxes for distribution.
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Food Inventory: (Tuesday - Thursday, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) Accept donations, sort and shelve items.
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Delivery Driver: (Monday - Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 PM) Deliver food packages in Story County.
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Food Box Delivery Driver: (10:00AM -12:00PM Thursday, September 17, October 1st, October 15th) Deliver family food boxes to clients in Ames.
SENIOR VARIETY SHOW - Ames
STORY MEDICAL SENIOR CARE CENTER - Nevada
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Friendly Visitors: (Days/times flexible) Provide companionship, read, reminisce, games, walks, etc.
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Men’s Coffee: (2nd and 4th Thursday/month, 1 hr) Visit, snack, play games, do crafts, etc.
SUNCREST HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE - Story County
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Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.
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Fidget Blankets: (On your own time) Make lap size fidget blankets for Alzheimer’s/Dementia patients.
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Hand-Made Blankets: (On your own time) Make hand-made, crocheted or quilted blankets.
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Friendly Dog Visits: (Flexible days/times) Bring your dog and, along with a staff member, visit patients in their homes or facilities.
United Way of Story County-Ames
THE WELL RESOURCE CENTER - Ames
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Hospitality: (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM, 3.5 hr shifts) Manage reception area, welcome guests, offer refreshments, office tasks, tidy up, engage in conversation with guests.
WORLDLY GOODS - Ames
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Store Associate: (Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 2 hr shifts) Greet customers, assist shoppers, organize shelves, keep the store tidy. Receive 20% discount on purchases!
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Window display designer: (As needed, seasonal. Flexible days & times) Design and set-up the front window display.
YSS (YOUTH & SHELTER SERVICES) - Story County
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Skills Training at Cambridge Ember Recovery Campus: (Flexible days/times) Teach a class or work one-on-one with youth on specific skills. This could include card games, crafting, knitting, baking, etc.
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School-based mentoring: (Once a week for 30-60 minutes) Meet with your mentee during the school day to reach goals.
KIDS AT FIRST-Nevada
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Before School Program (Mondays only from 7:00 am to 9:30 am First United Methodist Church, 1036 7th St., Nevada) Volunteers can help in the kitchen to prepare food, serve breakfast, help in the “kid’s rooms”, and/or walk the kids group to Central Elementary school.
MICA - Ames
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Monthly Food Boxes: (once a month on the 2nd Wednesday 2-3 hour shift) Volunteers will follow a list of guidelines for selecting items for the monthly food boxes. A cart is provided.
CITY OF AMES - “A Glimpse Inside”
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Host Volunteers: (October 17th, 2-hours shifts, 10:00 - 3:00) - Host volunteers will be trained to guide visitors and share information about showcased historic and architectural resources at locations in Ames’ Old Town National Register Historic Districts and Main Street.
MAIN STREET NEVADA - Nevada
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Nevada Downtown Market: (Alternate Thursday evenings from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM through October Two-hour shifts) - Assist with Managing Barricades, Greet Visitors, or Support Setup.
