Opportunities From: United Way of East Central Iowa

Camp Wapsie has several areas that could use some painting updates. We are seeking volunteers who can help us painting some walls benches signs and other areas around camp. Some inside and some outdoor projects. Volunteers fill out a Voluntary Disclosure form if they are here when we have guests in camp.

Support a cause you care about by coordinating a collection drive! Review the guide below for best practices and nonprofit beneficiary ideas. For questions or to celebrate your success, please respond to this opportunity and email volunteer@uweci.org.

Donate any extra produce from your gardens in the produce shed to be distributed to the community! We except clean non-sprayed FRESH produce. The produce shed is located right outside the Feed Iowa First shop. No need to wash because that’s our job! For more information, location specification, or contact info check our website!

Interested in lending a hand with the Veggie Van? We’d love to have your help!  

We believe access to fresh, healthy produce can—and does—transform lives. Nutritious food is a fundamental human right, and ensuring access to it is key to building vibrant, thriving communities where everyone can reach their full potential.

Through partnerships with food pantries, clinics, and community fridges across Linn County, we work to increase access to fresh, local produce. The Veggie Van makes weekly stops at apartment complexes and healthcare sites, offering 45-minute, farmers market-style distributions. No ID or paperwork is needed—produce is always free and available to anyone in need.

If you'd like to volunteer, check out the link below to pick a time that works for you. You’ll also find the full Veggie Van schedule and the distribution pantry partners. We’d be thrilled to have you join us in this effort!

*Please note that the Veggie Van Schedule is currently being delayed because of some internal maintenance. We will notify you when the schedule is released!

Veggie Van Volunteer Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DAAAE28A4FFCF8-55570104-2025#/

Details:

Join us every Monday from 4-6pm at the Feed Iowa First Shop. Tasks on Monday nights will vary according to season.  During the summer duties include washing and prepping vegetables to go out for community distribution, tending gardens on the SE side, harvesting, washing bins, and getting everything in order for the week!  We have tasks for those who cannot lift too!

Details:

Please review the volunteer handbook prior to volunteering.

Do you like being outdoors and working with your hands? Are you interested in Construction? 

 WRAP Wood Ramp Builders change someone’s life in one day, providing freedom to those who are homebound. Building a ramp allows someone the safety and security to go visit the doctor, have lunch with a friend, do shopping, walk the dog, attend church services, and other quality of life events.

WRAP is looking for individuals (and groups) to spend a build day working with our team to build accessibility ramps for individuals in the community.

Bring your tape measure and drill driver, or use those we will provide, enjoy some time in the sunshine, and improve someone’s home access with your volunteer efforts! Training and mentoring are provided onsite!

Groups are welcome, including teenagers, however we require adult supervision for minors.

For individuals, please fill out the application by following this link:

https://www.volgistics.com/appform/449453408

For a group, please fill out the application by following this link:

https://www.volgistics.com/appform/836905891

Grow Pamoja - Urban Garden Grow Pamoja offers immigrants and refugees hands-on farming experience in America. Our urban garden provides access to agricultural resources, supporting local food systems and empowering newcomers to grow and contribute to their communities.

Schedule: Every other week for tasks such as weeding Note: Must be scheduled in advance; volunteers need to be flexible with coordination

Grow Pamoja - Southwest Food Pantry provides nutritious food, supporting local food systems and empowering newcomers to grow and contribute to their communities.

Be part of one of the library’s most popular draws – library programming! Program Assistants help with program preparation and setup, monitoring, and cleanup. Programs are held both in the library or at one of our many outreach programs. Click here to download a full description for this opportunity.

Stocked daily with fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy, frozen/shelf-stable goods, and culturally familiar products, the Catherine McAuley Center’s food pantry provides free, nutritious food available to all clients, students, and residents.  With a commercial refrigerator, freezer, and self-serve display shelves near our front lobby, clients can choose the food that fits their needs in any quantity, as often as needed. No limits, no questions—just the freedom and dignity to access the food that helps them thrive.

Hosting a drive is easy—and impactful. We’ve made it simple with downloadable flyers, an updated food wish list, and helpful tips to get you started.

1. View Our Wish list Explore our list of most-needed items—these are the foods that make the biggest impact: . Be sure to check what’s currently accepted. https://cmc-cr.org/food-pantry-wishlist/

2. Promote Your Drive Use our customizable flyers and social media posts to spread the word. If you’re giving a presentation, play one of our promotional videos to rally support for the CMC mission. 

3. Collect Donations Designate a bin or collection area and start gathering items. 

4. Drop Off When your drive is complete, bring your donations to CMC during our donation drop-off hours. 

Learn more here: https://cmc-cr.org/give/supply-drives/

From personal care items to household goods, supply donations stock our hygiene closet, furnish living spaces for residents, and provide materials for programs and services. These everyday essentials bring comfort and hope to women, families, refugees, and immigrants rebuilding their lives.

Hosting a drive is easy—and impactful. We’ve made it simple with downloadable flyers, an updated wish list, and helpful tips to get you started.

1. View Our Wish list Explore our list of most-needed items—these are the foods that make the biggest impact: . Be sure to check what’s currently accepted.  https://cmc-cr.org/give/wishlist/

2. Promote Your Drive Use our customizable flyers and social media posts to spread the word. If you’re giving a presentation, play one of our promotional videos to rally support for the CMC mission. 

3. Collect Donations Designate a bin or collection area and start gathering items. 

4. Drop Off When your drive is complete, bring your donations to CMC during our donation drop-off hours. 

Learn more here: https://cmc-cr.org/give/supply-drives/

If you're looking for group volunteer opportunities, we have plenty of work at our Wanatee farm. We can host upwards of 15-20 people and opportunities include but are not limited to:

For further inquiries or questions, reach out to laura@feediowa1st.com or Jody@feediowa1st.com! Close-toed shoes, water bottles, and clothing equipped for farming is recommended. Conditions will most likely be on the warmer side while in the fields. 

You can make a difference in the life of a homebound senior in your community! Delivering “more than just a meal,” your visit will provide healthy nutrition, a safety check, a friendly smile, and the support for these individuals to remain in their homes.

Our volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers deliver over 1,000 meals each weekday all across our metro area. Delivery drivers pick up meals around 10:45am at various pick-up sites and then each delivery route takes approximately one hour.

Our routes are both family-friendly and business-friendly. Deliver one day a week, once a month – you can choose your own schedule! We can also adjust routes to meet your work schedule.

Drivers must have a current driver’s license, be able to drive their own vehicle, and must provide proof of auto insurance. Volunteers must also complete a background check prior to delivering meals. Youth are welcome to accompany an adult driver on deliveries!

Please contact volunteer@horizonsfamily.org or call 319-398-3943 if you are interested!

Outdoor opportunity! As a land care and maintenance volunteer, you or your group will play an important role in carrying out Prairiewoods' sustainability mission on our 70-acre woodland and prairie property. Work varies by season and according to weather, but could include trail maintenance, gardening, invasive species removal, harvesting, plowing, mowing, woodworking, other specific conservation or building projects, etc. We have a variety of opportunities and projects to suit different skill-sets and interests.

We also have Woodland Wednesdays that happen every Wednesday mornings from spring through fall and you'll be part of a team of volunteers that help out on the grounds during the morning and then served a delicious lunch afterwards. Interested? Contact Sandy Rosenberger at srosenberger@prairiewoods.org or call 319-395-6700 Ext. 216 to learn more.

The Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers Market has become one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest, with as many as 12,000 patrons visiting each market. We are proud to have nearly 200 local Iowa vendors offering fresh produce, a variety of baked goods, artisan gifts, meats and dairy products, live music, dancers and street performances round out this eclectic Cedar Rapids event.  Our volunteers are essential to our ability to host a successful market and are needed throughout the season. Volunteers tasks include: directing vendors to their spaces, set-up, working the Information Booth, and clean-up/tear-down after the event. The 2025 markets are on June 7, June 21,  July 5, July 19, August 2, August 16, September 6 and September 20.
Please sign-up at the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044EABAA23A57-55548851-2025#/                    THANK YOU!

Join Groundswell Cafe at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market this summer! We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help run our booth at the Market. Work alongside our team to help serve food, raise funds for our pay-it-forward program, and spread the word about the incredible mission of Groundswell Cafe and Matthew 25. 

Volunteer tasks include running the register (Square), and serving sandwiches. There are two shifts available for this role: 6-9:30am and 9:30am-1pm. We are looking for volunteers to work the booth alongside our staff for the following dates:

To sign up to volunteer, please reach out to volunteer@matthew-25.org.