4 ways to give back this holiday season in Des Moines
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Hey, Des Moines! It's that time of year where we can give back to our local community, whether it's through monetary donations, volunteering or helping out with our friends.
- Below are some worthy ways you can boost our city this year.
Give back with your friends
🏃♀️ Dress in a Santa suit and run a 5k around downtown on Dec. 9. Nearly half ($15) of your registration fee goes to a charity of your choice, including Girls on the Run and Children & Families of Iowa.
🎄 Tour Salisbury House and enjoy drinks and treats while it's decorated for the holidays during its annual fundraiser Dec. 2-3.
👩👧👦 Team up and adopt a family through West Des Moines Human Services.
🚙 Help deliver "cheer boxes" to people who have lost a loved one. This program is run by EveryStep.
Convenient ways to give back
🤝 Ronald McDonald House has an Amazon wishlist to benefit families with critically ill children staying at MercyOne or Blank Children's Hospital.
✨ Not sure whom to help? Check out GIVEdsm, which helps you find local causes and projects you care about.
👋 United Way of Central Iowa has a list of local nonprofits that need volunteer help over the holidays.
Monetary donations
🎓 Al Éxito is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to helping Latino youth achieve academic success and become leaders in Iowa.
✏️ Help Des Moines Public Schools buy books, supplies and school pantry items.
🏠 Support YSS, which helps local kids and teens by providing addiction treatment, mental health counseling and emergency housing.
Donate lightly used items
💼 Dress for Success in Urbandale is looking for professional clothing to help women entering the workforce.
🛋 USCRI Des Moines, which helps refugees settle into the metro area, has a list of needed items, including furniture, appliances and winter wear.
Plus: 🥪 Community fridges are well-used in Des Moines. Here's a map of places to donate food, including leftovers that are dated and sealed with ingredients listed.
- Your local library needs food, too.