Volunteer as an Individual

Serve your neighbors. Share real hope.

Volunteering with Hope Ministries is hands-on, relational and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re serving a meal, helping with childcare or teaching a class, you’ll see firsthand how simple acts of service can bring dignity and hope to your neighbors in need.

serve a meal at hope cafe

One of the easiest ways to get plugged in is by signing up to serve a meal at Hope Cafe! It's a great opportunity to impact hungry people in Central Iowa. At Hope Cafe, we serve both shelter residents as well as community members from the surrounding neighborhoods. We'd love to have you join us for this meaningful volunteer experience—no orientation required. Just hit the button below to check out open meal-serving dates and sign up!
Sign up to serve a meal
Onsite volunteers must be 13 or older.
  • Men receiving meals at Hope Ministries Hope Cafe

M25 VOLUNTEER NETWORK

Interested in volunteering on a regular basis—weekly, monthly or quarterly? We’ve got a place for you in our M25 Volunteer Network! Based on Matthew 25:35–40, this is a network of individuals currently volunteering regularly—serving meals, teaching classes, mentoring individuals and more. Together, they provide stability and care for our residents and programs. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Attend Hope 101:

    Join our one-hour orientation to learn more about our mission, opportunities, and volunteer expectations. See upcoming Hope 101 dates here.

  2. Complete Requirements:

    M25 Volunteers must be 13 or older. A $25 processing fee covers your background check and volunteer t-shirt. You’ll also review and affirm our Mission, Core Values, and Statement of Faith.

  3. Find Your Place to Serve:

    After orientation, we’ll match your interests and skills with the right opportunity—whether that’s serving meals, tutoring kids, or lending a hand at our administrative office.

Sign Up for Hope 101

Volunteer Opportunities

There’s a place for everyone to serve. Here are some of the ways individual volunteers make a difference:

Serve Meals

Help prepare and serve 650+ free meals daily at our Hope Café and other centers.

Support Children & Families

Tutor kids, assist with activities at Kids Nite, or provide childcare for moms in our programs.

Teach & Mentor

Facilitate recovery classes, provide tutoring, or share special skills (curriculum provided).

Help Lead Activities

Receive training to help lead activities such as our escape room experience, volunteer fairs and more.

Lend a Hand Behind the Scenes

Drive residents to appointments, answer phones, or assist with kitchen prep and cleanup.

Ready to find your place as an M25 volunteer?

We’ll help you match your time and talents with the right opportunity. The first step is attending Hope 101.
Sign Up for Hope 101

Got Questions? Contact our volunteer coordinator, Trevor Schmitt, at (515) 265-7272 or tschmitt@hopeiowa.org.

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities

On Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Saturday before Easter, Hope Ministries provides thousands of free holiday meals to neighbors in need — both delivered throughout the Des Moines area and served at our Hope Café. These special outreaches are some of our most popular volunteer opportunities, with hundreds of people helping assemble, pack, deliver, serve, decorate, and clean up.

Learn More

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