Our volunteer centers are open in Des Moines and Ottumwa. We need you now more than ever! Learn more about how you can support our vision of a hunger-free Iowa.

Volunteer In Person

We welcome individual and group volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer as a group, please fill out our group volunteer form. You can count your hours toward school or work service, like Silver Cord, but not court-ordered community service.

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Food Sorting

You’ll label, count and box donated food so we can distribute it. Here are some examples of what you’ll do:

  • Pack BackPack sacks
  • Sort food drive donations
  • Check dates and food safety of food drive items
  • Bag bulk produce
  • Repackage bulk rice or pasta into family-sized bags
  • Box up like items into equally weighted boxes
  • Sort bread
  • Pack family boxes

Skills-Based Volunteering

You’ll put your talents and experience to work for us. Opportunities are diverse and can be tailored to match your skills. Some common needs include:

  • Data entry
  • Drivers for large vans
  • Administrative assistance
  • Special events support

Please complete a skills-based volunteer form so we can match you with the right opportunity.

Volunteer from Home

You can help from home or virtually anywhere by sewing T-shirt tote bags or creating inspiration cards for our BackPack Program™.

Then, deliver these items to our distribution centers in Des Moines (2220 E. 17th St.) or Ottumwa (705 W. Main St.). We’re open 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mondays–Thursdays and 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Fridays.

DIY T-Shirt Tote Bags

As the need for food increases, we need bags to support mobile pantries and drive-through school distributions. It’s easy to sew the T-shirt tote bags we prepack with food for these programs. All you need is a sewing machine, heavyweight cotton T-shirts and a few other common items.

BackPack Program Inspiration Cards

We distribute more than 4,500 BackPack sacks for elementary students each week. These bags include nutritious, kid-friendly food for the weekend, plus an inspirational message. We need help creating these inspiration cards for kids and their families.

Volunteers at FBOI warehouse

Questions about Volunteering?

Contact Senior Volunteer Training and Development Manager Michaela Devaney Lowe at mdevaneylowe@foodbankiowa.org or 515-867-2886.