Community Action
Central Iowa Shelter meals | Interfaith Hospitality Network | Refugee Families | Pride Day | Hunger Hike | AMOS | The Giving Tree | Urbandale Food Pantry | Habitat for Humanity
Central Iowa Shelter Meals
On a regular basis, many of us serve dinner at the Central Iowa Shelter and Services. This is an emergency shelter in downtown Des Moines for homeless women and men. Volunteers are needed to bake/provide food, transport food from the church to the shelter and serve the meal. We often need money for the meal; donations may be put in the offering plates marked "Central Iowa Shelter Meal." Also, look for sign-up sheets on the Narthex table to make food and bring items for the meal. If you would like more information, directions to the shelter or a ride to the shelter, contact the Community Concerns Team.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Upcoming Hosting Weeks: Jan. 24-31
We are a host church with the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN). Four weeks out of the year, we provide food and shelter to homeless families as an alternative to area shelters, which are forced by limited resources to separate husbands from wives and parents from their opposite-sex children. From cooking and serving, to serving as an overnight host, from providing transportation to organizing supplies and doing laundry, you can pitch in! Sign up in the Narthex in the weeks leading up to IHN.
Refugee Families
We have helped refugee families as they settle in the Des Moines area. Most recently, we have assisted families from Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
Pride Day
This annual celebration of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender identity is a perfect venue for us to proclaim our extravagant welcome as an Open and Affirming congregation and invite all into our fellowship.
Hunger Hike
Many of us participate in the Annual Des Moines Area Hunger Hike to help alleviate hunger in our community and the world. Part of the funds raised will support the Urbandale Food Pantry. Get your pledge envelope from Joanne or Karl Andersen, and plan to walk in the Hike.
AMOS
Our congregation is involved with AMOS (A Midwest Organizing Strategy), and we will intentionally engage members in one of four study/action groups AMOS is currently working (immigration, the economy, health care and education). AMOS allows us to work with others from the faith community, empowering one another to work toward common solutions to problems in the community and state.
The Giving Tree
In summer, a tree will be in the narthex with gift ideas for individuals and projects in the community that provide relief and friendship. We offer the opportunity to exercise the Christmas spirit of giving in order to provide help to individuals and organizations at a time when donations slow.
Urbandale Food Pantry
The first image that comes to mind when you say "Urbandale" is not hunger. And yet just down the street from our church is Karen Acres, a school where 30 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch (200% or less of the federal poverty level). Concerned Urbandale citizens worked in a collaborative partnership with the City of Urbandale, the Urbandale Caring Corps, the Urbandale Ministerial Alliance, and the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) to start the Urbandale Food Pantry. We regularly collect items for the Pantry.
Habitat for Humanity
We have helped out on projects of the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.
