Disability Rights Iowa (DRI) is part of a national network of protection and advocacy systems established in the 1970s by the U.S. Congress to respond to repeated abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in large institutions. They are an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation funded through contributions, corporate and foundation funding, and grants from the Federal Government. They use federal funding to serve people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, and other disabilities. DRI advocates for the rights of Iowa citizens with disabilities regardless of the setting they live in.

DRI envisions a world in which individuals with disabilities and mental illness have equal access and opportunity to live, work, and learn in the most integrated settings. Each year, DRI allocates limited funding to designated areas of focus to capture the needs of as many Iowans with disabilities as possible. DRI looks to the community to provide insight into their needs and adjusts their Areas of Focus to reflect that.

This is a Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food panty. People seeking assistance can visit one of the DMARC food pantries to receive a three-day supply of food once per month. Pantry open hours vary. Please visit dmarcunited.org/food/pantry-locations for the most up-to-date schedules.

Free medical clinic

Serves families with children from birth to age three through Early Head Start. Serves children ages 3-4 through the Head Start program. Early Head Start home visiting program offers families a weekly, 90-minute visit which provides families with education and strategies to enhance learning at home.

The Drake Legal Clinic allows students the chance to gain practical experience by working with actual clients. The clinic also serves the community by helping those who might not otherwise have access to legal assistance.

The Easter seals Iowa Assistive Technology Program helps Iowans learn about and access the assistive technology (AT) they need as part of their daily lives to live, learn, work, play, and participate in community life safely and independently.

Camp options for people with and without disabilities where they can learn and grow

Clients Socially Integrated is a community-based day program for adults with disabilities focused on learning transferable skills that lead to independence in the community. This is achieved by spending the day out in the community, learning to navigate the public transportation system, relationship building, problem solving and deciding as a group what activities to do.

The program provides training in skills such as socialization, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, peer relationships and more. Life Club clients make friends, get out to see different community attractions and choose and lead activities they enjoy. Team members focus on strengths and independence as clients participate in activities

Project SEARCH is an internship program that places young adults with special needs in a real working environment, giving them skills to prepare for the workforce. The goal of the program is community-based employment for clients. Internships take place at Mercy Medical Center.

The Easter seals Iowa Respite program provides temporary care for children and adults with disabilities, allowing parents/caregivers a break while providing the clients with a safe and supported social environment.

Easter Seals Iowa offers agricultural work site and home modification consultations, peer support, services for the family, information and referrals, and medical equipment loan services. Team members are knowledgeable about resources throughout the state that can address the unique needs of rural family members with disabilities, and actively pursue services that will enhance their lives

Supported Community Living (SCL) provides people with disabilities the opportunity to live as independently as possible in the community. Service includes support with safety, housekeeping, finances, communication, employment, socialization, transportation and wellness.

Supported Education is a unique program designed to give participants support and guidance as they develop marketable skills through post-secondary education. Participants are provided with ongoing support throughout the semester with registering for classes, accessing campus resources and communicating with faculty.

Supported Employment assists clients in both obtaining and maintaining community-based employment. A job developer supports clients in determining employment opportunities they are interested in and in finding a job. Job developers also support clients to fill out applications, prepare resumes and perfect interview skills. Once a job is obtained, a job coach assists clients to learn job responsibilities, the culture and values of the work environment, job accommodations and explaining how employment affects their benefits.

Eastside Church of the Nazarene operates a food pantry in conjunction with the Food Bank of Iowa.

In addition to the regular food pantry, they serve as a pantry site for Des Moines Public School (DMPS) through the Food Bank of Iowa. Serving families with students from Philips Elementary School, Willard Elementary School, Hoyt Middle School, Brubaker Elementary School, Stowe Elementary School and Pleasant Hill Elementary School.

Eddie Davis Community Center is located in Valley Junction in West Des Moines. The community center offers services such as a food pantry, meal site, and clothing closet.

Ellipsis community programs are focused on strengthening family life, reestablishing the self-worth of the individual and teaching basic skills for living in the community, all while maximizing opportunities to keep families together. We tailor our program delivery for each child or young adult, employing a variety of techniques and strategies depending on individual needs and situations. Our prevention and diversion programs and our behavioral health support and after care programs are designed to ensure kids can stay in their homes while receiving services ranging from personal and family-based therapy to crisis stabilization, and can take place in the home, remotely or in other community settings.

Community food pantry open to all every 4th Thursday of the month.

The Early Childhood Parent Navigator program provides refugee parents with early childhood development education and support in their native language. The program also works to increase opportunities for family engagement with schools and service providers, increase enrollment and support of refugee children in preschool and kindergarten, and help teachers and school staff better understand refugee parents.

We exist to empower people of all gender and sexual identities in all life stages through the provision of quality reproductive health care that includes abortion services, gynecology services, safer sex promotion, and active education. We promote respectful, client-centered and participatory health care through informed decision making, client rights, advocacy and expansion, and support of pregnancy choices.

We offer non-judgmental, quality health care services. Our goals are inspired by our belief in the larger ideals of feminist philosophy: political, economic, and social equality.

6th floor of the Insurance Exchange Building in downtown Des Moines

Eternity church offers a mobile food pantry that travels to other locations in the Des Moines metro throughout the week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Tuesday’s mobile food pantry is located at the corner of 4th street and Euclid Avenue
Wednesday’s mobile food pantry is located at 2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Friday’s mobile food pantry is located at 314 East Army Post Road

Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families helps families and individuals improve their financial position and connects them with their work and career goals.

The Center is a partnership between the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). The partnership is providing solutions to three crucial needs identified by local residents: workforce training, employment opportunities and grocery and retail services.​

One of Iowa’s oldest and most trusted non-profit organizations has a new name. HCI Care Services & Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa is now called EveryStep. EveryStep provides a range of services in 47 counties across the southern half of Iowa.

Our people and programs provide support and education to young moms; assistance to immigrants and refugees; wellness services to communities; in-home care to people who are ill, injured or facing the end of life; and compassionate support to families during times of grief and loss.

The Food Bank of Iowa Mobile Pantry Program is designed to provide a flexible food assistance resource in locations that don’t have access to traditional resources. At each mobile pantry distribution, a Food Bank of Iowa truck delivers a customized load of food—produce, meat, bread and non-perishable items are common—to the prearranged mobile pantry site. Local volunteers set up a distribution system that looks much like a farmers market, distributing food to families and individuals in need throughout the scheduled time.

Food Book of Iowa partners with school districts across the state to provide food pantries in area schools. Information about which schools have Food Bank of Iowa pantries is available on the Food Bank of Iowa website.

The Food Bank of Iowa Mobile Pantry Program is designed to provide a flexible food assistance resource in locations that don’t have access to traditional resources. At each mobile pantry distribution, a Food Bank of Iowa truck delivers a customized load of food—produce, meat, bread and non-perishable items are common—to the prearranged mobile pantry site. Local volunteers set up a distribution system that looks much like a farmers market, distributing food to families and individuals in need throughout the scheduled time.

Food Book of Iowa partners with school districts across the state to provide food pantries in area schools. Information about which schools have Food Bank of Iowa pantries is available on the Food Bank of Iowa website.

Collaborates and combine resources and programs to best serve children and families across Iowa.

Combine and collaborate with programs and resources to best serve children and families across Iowa.

The Friendship Center has been in existence since 1982 and has been a fixture in the MLK neighborhood of Des Moines, for more than 20 years. The Friendship Center begun through the ministry of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, the center now exists as a nonprofit organization. The Friendship Center offer several services that meet family and individuals’ physical needs in the community.

The Friendship Center offers a food pantry & clothing closet during their monthly Family Game Nights.  Anyone is welcome to participate. The Friendship Center also offers a supplemental Food program to neighbors in the immediate area.  Baby supplies and personal care items may be available as well. English as a Second Language classes are offered with childcare.

Connects Iowans to the education and training needed to improve careers and skill sets.

Provides free programs that are educational and therapeutic in nature to individuals with Down Syndrome from birth through adulthood, their families, and the community.

Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in third and eighth grade. We teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons, and running games.

Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in third and eighth grade. We teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons, and running games.

Empowering cis-girls & women, non-binary, and trans youth & adults through self-expression, creative agency, and mentoring in music & arts-based education, collaboration, performance, and production.

Provides free healthcare for everyone

Granger Public Library offers a community refrigerator inside the library. Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.

Database of housing resources throughout the state of Iowa intended for Iowans seeking to maintain or acquire safe and affordable housing.

1:1 homebuying counseling and group education classes focused on financial literacy, home affordability, budgeting, and understanding/using credit.

Sells new and used home improvement materials at a discounted price

Sells new and used home improvement materials at a discounted price

Provides public transportation to Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story, and Warren counties.

The Helping Hand of Warren County offers a food pantry, as well as a clothing closet with furniture and household items. Warren County residents can access the pantry once a month. Emergency food is available on open pantry days as well.

The Helping Hand of Warren County also helps stock community refrigerators in Warren County.

Provides quality, affordable housing and offer homeownership options for low to moderate income households

Serves three free meals to community members every day.

Provides shelter, food, clothing and case management support for men.

Provides 30-day short-term shelter and long-term life recovery for single women and moms with kids.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership is one of Iowa’s 16 Community Action Agencies. IMPACT serves residents of Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk, and Warren Counties.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership is one of Iowa’s 16 Community Action Agencies. IMPACT serves residents of Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk, and Warren Counties.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership is one of Iowa’s 16 Community Action Agencies. IMPACT serves residents of Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk, and Warren Counties.

IMPACT Community Action Partnership is one of Iowa’s 16 Community Action Agencies. IMPACT serves residents of Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk, and Warren Counties.

Helping Hands Warren County provides a community refrigerator at the Indianola Public Library. Community refrigerators are open to anyone to take what they need to feed themselves and their family. Members of the local community stock the refrigerators and shelves with perishable and nonperishable items. The availability of items at the refrigerators change daily and throughout the day.

Provides interpretation and translation services in 270 languages

Invest DSM empowers residents and business owners in targeted Des Moines neighborhoods to improve their properties, strengthen their social connections, and create a community that works for them.

Iowa Baptist Mission offers a variety of appliances starting at $50.

ICOACH strives to empower the Congolese community of Central Iowa by creating economic opportunities and delivering community-driven assistance.

ICOACH serves refugee communities to address challenges faced by newly arrived refugees in Polk, Dallas, Marshall, and Black Hawk counties in five areas: Healing, Education, Economic Opportunity Upskilling, Advocacy, and Development.

Under each category, specific programs and strategies are developed. ICOACH is working hard to address the many needs of refugees to enhance learning while addressing the financial and accessibility needs of our participants. In addition to providing services, we partner with other organizations and businesses to raise awareness, execute plans, and more.