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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

  • 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.

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AFFORDABLES THRIFT STORE – Story City

  • Clerk: (Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM) Sort and price donations.

ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION WALK - Ames

  • Kick off Block Party (September 12th 9:00am-12:00pm) Assist with set-up or clean-up. Assist with food and refreshments.

Contact Kim at (515) 292-8890 if you have any questions about the opportunities listed below

ANCHORED HOPE – Ames

  • Miscellaneous Support: Volunteer needs include mentors, transportation, skills training, and events.

Ballard Community Clothes & Food Pantry - Huxley

  • 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.

  • Summer Lunch Program: (June 2-August 21st Tuesdays and Fridays) Prepare lunch (7:30-10:30 AM), Deliver lunch (10:30-11:30 AM), or distribute lunches (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM).

CAMELOT THEATER FOUNDATION – Nevada

  • Concessions: (Times/Dates vary) Stock concessions, assist with orders and ushering, and clean up.

AMES MAIN STREET -DOWNTOWN

  • Main Street Beautification: (Seasonal) Volunteers will weed the planters, clean up trash in and around the planters on Main Street. Harvest in the Fall, and/or add holiday decorations to the planters.

 

  • 4th of July Parade helpers: (Saturday, July 4th) Barricade  watchers, Parade Line-up helpers, and Teardown assistants. 

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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

  • Duck Derby Volunteers: (August 12th 5:45pm-7:45pm) Duck adoptions, Duck drop team, Finish line crew, or set-up/tear-down.

CENTRAL IOWA RSVP – Story County

  • 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

  • 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 Preparation with Special Assignment: Every other Tuesday and every other Friday, (9:30 AM-11:00 AM) assist with Meal Preparation while working with community members from a local habilitation program.

FRIENDSHIP ARK - Ames

  • “Bill Bergan” 5k Run/Walk: (Saturday, July 4th) Various volunteer opportunities: Food Table/Popsicles volunteer  

GOOD NEIGHBOR – Ames

  • 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

  • Store Clerk: (Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Greet and assist customers, organize and shelve donations.

HARMONY CLOTHING CLOSET – Nevada

  • 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

  • Commodity Box Delivery: (Once/month) Deliver commodity boxes to seniors’ homes in Story County, pick up at Heartland.  OR Deliver commodity boxes to seniors’ homes in Eastern Story County (Nevada/Cambridge/Maxwell), Pick up at SCORE Park in Nevada.

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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.
     

  • Friendly Phone Pal: (Days/times determined by the volunteer & client) Offer an opportunity for increased social interaction for homebound clients through regular phone calls.

IOWA ARBORETUM & GARDENS – Madrid

  • Gift Shop: (Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Accept admissions, sell gift shop items.

IOWA VETERANS HOME - Marshalltown

  • Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.

 

  • Fidget Blankets: (On your own time) Make lap size fidget blankets for Alzheimer’s/Dementia patients.

 

  • Handmade Blankets: (On your own time) Make quilts or crocheted blankets for residents.

MAIN STREET AMES - Ames

  • RAGBRAI volunteers (July 22, 2026 9:00am-3:00pm TWO-HOUR SHIFTS) Bathroom attendants, Parking attendants, and Traffic attendants. 

MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER – Ames

  • Medical Telemetry Support: (Mondays 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM) Provide administrative support, answer phones, and direct visitors.

 

  • 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.

 

  • 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

  • Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.

OCTAGON CENTER FOR THE ARTS - Ames

  • Art Donation Organizer: (Flexible, Mon-Thur) Organize Art donations.

 

  • Art Researcher: (Flexible: in home opportunity) Research art donations.

 

  • Greeter: (Thursday, July 16th 5:00PM - 8:00PM) Music on the Patio: Greet guests, serve/replenish beverages and snacks.

 

  • Greeter: (Thursday, August 13, 5:00PM-7:00PM) Opening Reception: Greet guests, serve/replenish beverages and snacks.

 

  • Greeter: (Thursday, August 20th, 5:00PM-7:30PM) Poetry Slam: Greet guests, serve/replenish beverages and snacks.

 

  • Steam Cleaner: (flexible Monday-Thursday 12:00pm-4:30pm) Steam, hang and label tablecloths.

OVERFLOW THRIFT STORE – Ames

  • 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.

RAISING READERS - Ames

  • Summer Reading Buddies: (June 8th - July 1st Days: Mondays AND Wednesdays Time: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM) Meeker Elementary School, Ames (300 20th St.)

 

  • Summer Reading Buddies: (June 3rd - July 31st Days: Mondays AND Wednesdays Time: 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM OR 4:45 - 6:00 PM) Ames Public Library (515 Douglas Ave.)

 

  • Summer Story Pals: (July 14th - August 6th Tuesday/Thursday 10:30-11:30 North Grand Mall) Support the development of language and early literacy skills reading to preschoolers.

REIMAN GARDENS - Ames

  • Butterfly Wing Docent: (Daily, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM, 2 hr shifts) Monitor the butterfly enclosure and interact with the public.

 

  • 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.

 

  • Garden Guide: (1 hr tours) Guide groups through the butterfly wing, conservatory, and outdoors.

 

  • Indoor Gardening Assistants: (Flexible shifts) Water, plant, deadhead, trim, weed, other projects, etc.

 

  • 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.

RUNNERS UNITED - Nevada

  • Course Volunteers: (July 4th time to be determined) Freedom Run 5k volunteer will assist along the course.

SALVATION ARMY - Ames

  • Food Pantry: (Monday - Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 PM) Fill food boxes for distribution.

 

  • Food Inventory: (Tuesday - Thursday, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) Accept donations, sort and shelve items.

 

  • Delivery Driver: (Monday - Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 PM) Deliver food packages in Story County.

SENIOR VARIETY SHOW - Ames

  • Flyer distribution: (flexible days and times) Distribute Event flyers to main street businesses throughout Story County.

 

  • Ushers: ( August 14 & 15, 2026)  Greet guests at the door, assist guests to their seats.  

STORY MEDICAL SENIOR CARE CENTER - Nevada

  • Friendly Visitors: (Days/times flexible) Provide companionship, read, reminisce, games, walks, etc.
     

  • Men’s Coffee: (2nd and 4th Thursday/month, 1 hr) Visit, snack, play games, do crafts, etc.

SUNCREST HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE - Story County

  • Caring Cards: (On your own time) Write letters, make cards, or send caring notes to hospice patients.
     

  • Fidget Blankets: (On your own time) Make lap size fidget blankets for Alzheimer’s/Dementia patients.
     

  • Hand-Made Blankets: (On your own time) Make hand-made, crocheted or quilted blankets.
     

  • 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

  • Blast Back to School Pack Backpacks: (Thursday August 10th multiple shifts 10:00-4:00). Pack the backpacks with donated supplies

THE WELL RESOURCE CENTER - Ames

  • 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

  • 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!
     

  • Window display designer: (As needed, seasonal. Flexible days & times) Design and set-up the front window display. 

YSS (YOUTH & SHELTER SERVICES) - Story County

  • 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.
     

  • School-based mentoring: (Once a week for 30-60 minutes) Meet with your mentee during the school day to reach goals.

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