Community Resources

Meals and Men's Shelter at Bethel Mission: Shelter for men, also serves three meals a day to all community members.

Meal Hours (1310 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314): Monday-Saturday: Breakfast 7 AM, Lunch 12 PM, Dinner 5 PM.
Sunday: Breakfast 8 AM, Lunch 1:30 PM, Dinner 5 PM

A part of Hope Ministries services.

Food and clothing items are available for free (ID preferred, but not required). Limited amount of food available without ID.

Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM-5 PM

Creates and supports mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Mentoring is provided for youth in our community at no cost.
The intentional matching process evaluates personality, interests, and other factors to ensure the best chance of a long-term relationship between youth (Littles) and volunteer mentors (Bigs).

Reaches children in the critical year before kindergarten, helping them build the pre-reading skills they need for a strong start in school. For 40 minutes a week, volunteers read one-on-one with four-year-old students at early childhood centers in Des Moines.

To sign up, send an email to bookbuddy@unitedwaydm.org

Eight locations where children in grades K-12 can find a safe, supportive place to be after school and during the summer, with structured programs and caring staff role models in place to address the most difficult challenges facing our young people.

Offers a full range of substance-abuse treatment services targeted toward those with limited access to other options. The full program can last up to a year and involves substance abuse treatment, transitional living and outpatient treatment.

Admissions office can be reached at dcoughlin@bridgesofia.org

Mental Health Emergency Crisis Team: 515.283.4811

Medical Center (515.282.2200): Offers medical, dental, eye, emergency, pharmacy, mental health, and crisis services.

New Connections Addiction Treatment (515.282.661)

Partners with Findley and King Elementary and Harding Middle School, to increase high school graduation and postsecondary readiness rates while engaging community partnerships to uplift students, families, and whole neighborhoods.

Clothes Closet distributes clothing and household items free of charge. 

Hours: Tuesday, 1:30 - 3:30 PM, Saturday, 9:30 - 11:30 AM

The Altoona Food Pantry serves people living in the Southeast Polk, Colfax-Mingo, and Bondurant School Districts and all of Pleasant Hill. Provides low-income families with food, clothing and financial-aid assistance.

Hours: Monday - Friday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Counseling Program: Licensed therapists work with clients to address depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, child behavior problems, trauma, abuse, grief, loss and more. Specialize in treating couples and families. 

Refugee Resettlement: Settles clients with families or close friends in the area and assists in health exams, job placement assistance, school enrollment, language classes, and bus training. 

Provides individuals and families up to three days worth of food for free.

Hours: Monday-Thursday10 AM-3:30 PM, Friday 9:30 AM-12:30 PM