Needs From: United Way of Mahaska County

Make a Difference in Your Community—Right from Home!

Are you passionate about your local community and want to help others discover how to give back? We're looking for seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us update and enrich local pages on Ways to Connect, our national directory of volunteer sites.

Ways to Connect is a crowdsourced platform designed to boost traffic and engagement to local volunteer websites—like this one! With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors easily find volunteer opportunity platforms, service clubs, mutual aid groups, and more—making it simpler than ever for everyone to make an impact locally.

What You'll Do:

Conduct quick, simple online research to identify active service clubs, mutual aid groups, and upcoming volunteer events in your community.

Enhance your community's page on Ways to Connect by ensuring the information is current, accurate, and inviting for potential volunteers.

Optional: Promote your community’s page on social media to help friends and family find a path to service.

Why Volunteer with Inspiring Service?

Easy and flexible: Volunteer remotely at your convenience.

Immediate community impact: Help your neighbors discover meaningful ways to contribute.

Small commitment: Volunteer for as little as 2 hours, or as much as you'd like.

Growth opportunities: Volunteers can explore deeper involvement through our Ambassador program.

Ready to help your community thrive? Join us today and make volunteering more accessible for everyone.

Biscuits Cupboard is a pet food pantry that is here to help those struggling to feed their pets.  We supply a months worth of food for up to 3 pets on the third Saturday of the month.  We can always use help re-bagging food and handing it out to these who need it. 

Oskaloosa Schools need approximately two people to help with framing some pictures. This can be at any time. Just call 641-673-8345 to help out and for more information.

Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter will be 50 years in the spring of 2026.  We would love for some volunteers to help plan our fundraiser celebration.  We would like to have a few fundraisers up to the large event and a block party like event in May.  Ideas and help with planning is needed and appreciated.  

Transporting shelter clients to:

- Job interviews

- Housing application drop off

- Medical Appointments

- Other appointments as needed

Contacted 15-24hrs in advanced

What the volunteer will be doing:

When they are needed:

The truck arrives at 1 p.m. The entire process should take approximately one hour depending on the volume of the order of the month. 

Must be able to lift 20-40 lb. boxes of product

All ages welcome to volunteer. If under 18, must be accompanied by an adult.

As a busy agency with a small staff, we need help keeping our office tidy! Can you spare an hour or two every couple of weeks to run the vacuum cleaner, mop floors, clean the restroom and tidy up other things as needed?

No training required. We'll provide all equipment and cleaning materials. We'll ask you to sign a confidentiality statement. Please give us a hand!

Neighbor to Neighbor Call Program Volunteer

RSVP Neighbor to Neighbor Call Program Volunteers (55+ years of age) connect with frail, homebound, and low-income seniors (60 and older), persons living with a disability (18-59), and veterans. Each volunteer caller telephones their assigned companions once a week for a call lasting 15 - 30 minutes for a duration of at least 8 weeks. Typically, two companions are assigned to each volunteer. Volunteers may start conversations related to the interest of the companion, discuss current events, have a movie or book discussion, or reminisce about the past, etc. Time commitment is a minimum of 30 minutes per week.

Service:

The service is offered throughout Mahaska County. Senior members of the community, especially those isolated due to mobility or health challenges can request a Neighbor to Neighbor volunteer caller. Caregivers can also request services for their loved one. Seniors receiving companionship calls report they feel less social isolation and more community support.

Please contact IDA RSVP for additional information.

Duties:

As needed, work with other staff and volunteers to ensure that call recipients are receiving the assistance they need.

The survivors we serve often need transportation, whether that's quick errands around town or longer trips to a different community to get a fresh start on life. We're creating a team of volunteer drivers to serve us as needs arrive. Driving could be done in a CIS vehicle or in your own vehicle. We will compensate for fuel and other expenses if you use your own vehicle.

Volunteers will be screened (including background checks) and go through training that addresses trauma-informed care, confidentiality and other issues. Volunteers must provide their driver's license and proof of insurance.

If you have questions or wish to apply, contact Pat at 641-660-9361 or patf@stopdvsa.org.

What the volunteer will be doing:

When they are needed:

The volunteer must complete 20-hour online Victim Counselor Training and internal trainings focusing on legal advocacy, medical advocacy and housing assessment/intake.

*Volunteer cannot have received services from CIS within the last year - Pending Executive Director approval

Must be over 18

If interested, contact Pat Finan at patf@stopdvsa.org or 641-660-9361

Help is needed providing occasional child care for emergency shelter clients. Adult survivors often flee traumatic situations with one or more children in tow. This is a simple but vital role as they journey toward stability.

Clients often have job interviews, legal appointments or other needs. Child care needs often arise on short notice, so volunteers will be on standby list and will be called whenever needed. We will try to provide at least 24 hours’ notice.

Shifts are between one and four hours. Child care can be provided in our shelter in Mahaska County or at CIS offices (212 North I Street).

Providers must pass a background check and sign our Confidentiality Agreement.

Milestone Area Agency on Aging is looking for volunteers to delivery meals to local seniors from the Grant Senior Center. Volunteers would pick up meals from the Center and deliver meals based on set routes. Deliveries typically take between 1-2 hours depending on the volume of meals on a day. This is a flexible opportunity and volunteers are able to choose the frequency at which they want to help. 

Milestones Area Agency on Aging is looking for volunteers to help package meals at the Grant Senior Center. Volunteers would assist with assembling meals into containers and getting them ready for delivery. Hours of volunteer service would be Monday-Friday from 8 am-10/10:30am. Volunteers can choose the amount of days they wish to help with. 

RSVP Library Material Deliveries

RSVP Library Delivery volunteers (55+ years of age) are important for helping our library patrons who are unable to attend the library utilize services and providing a connection to their community. Delivery of library materials will be from the Oskaloosa Public Library to homebound individuals and individuals with disabilities. RSVP volunteers (55+ years of age) are eligible for reimbursement at a rate of .50/mile. Supplemental insurance is also available for RSVP volunteers. Please contact IDA RSVP for additional information.

Duties

Volunteer drivers will use their own vehicles to transport library materials to recipients. Volunteers may also be requested to pick up library materials when they are due. Routes of deliveries will be provided to the volunteer prior to picking up materials. We encourage volunteers to spend a few minutes talking with delivery recipients to provide socialization, but is not required.

The service is offered throughout Mahaska County.  Delivery times will vary depending on demand. RSVP volunteers (55+ years of age) are eligible for reimbursement at a rate of .50/mile. Supplemental insurance is also available for RSVP volunteers. Please contact IDA RSVP for additional information.

Service:

RSVP’s Volunteers provide library materials for frail, homebound, and low-income seniors (60 and older), persons living with a disability (18-59), and veterans, who are no longer able to drive themselves to the library.

Skills:

Volunteer station-specific requirements including:

Summary:

RSVP Transportation Coordinators (55+ years of age) provide free critical care trips to medical, dental, and vision appointments; essential shopping and socialization opportunities; and other necessary trips in/outside their respective county for seniors in their local communities. Drivers also serve as companions and share conversations with seniors to help reduce their isolation and provide the reassurance that there is someone who cares for them, they are not alone, and they can remain self-sufficient.

Service:

RSVP’s Volunteers provide transportation for frail, homebound, and low-income seniors (60 and older), persons living with a disability (18-59), and veterans, who are no longer able to drive themselves.

Duties

Volunteer drivers will use their own vehicles to transport the seniors to their appointments and may wait for the duration of the appointment before taking them home.  Some assistance may be needed helping clients at the door to and from their home and destination, or with small medical equipment.

The service is offered throughout Mahaska County. Rides can be scheduled on weekdays from 8:30am-5pm with the RSVP Transportation Coordinator, and at least 24 hours notice is requested, but rides cannot be guaranteed as they depend on the availability of the volunteer drivers.  RSVP volunteers (55+ years of age) are eligible for reimbursement at a rate of .50/mile. Supplemental insurance is also available for RSVP volunteers. Please contact IDA RSVP for additional information.

by contributing expertise through the Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers project, a volunteer attorney can provide desperately needed legal assistance. The Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct encourage every lawyer to aspire to provide at least 50 hours of pro bone legal services per year. We need attorneys willing to represent low-income clients in a wide variety of civil legal matters, including family law, consumer problems, landlord/tenant disputes, civil rights and government benefits cases. All Iowa Attorneys, recent admitted, as well as experienced practitioners, are encouraged to participate. Established members of the bar will appreciate the opportunity to explore new areas of practice and develop ones insights into the problems of the poor. Newer attorneys will gain valuable litigation experience through their contributions. The Volunteer Lawyers Project is designated to give participating attorneys control over the number of pro bono referrals to be accepted and the decision as to whether to accept to given referral at a given time. Volunteer lawyers are initially contacted by a referral coordinator, rather than by the would-be client, and are given the opportunity to accept or decline each referral. 

A tax volunteer will assist clients with identifying and gathering key documents to assist with tax preparation, provide clients with needed assistance in filling out forms or complying with document requests, prepare federal and state returns needed to bring clients into filing compliance, provide clients with basic record-keeping tips and pointers to assist client in being more successful going forward. The volunteer must have knowledge and experience of individual tax preparation, strong computer skills and be pleasant, patient, and dependable. They will be trained on Iowa Legal Aid's computer and telephone systems as well as office equipment. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

A translator translates documents and websites, assists with Limited English Proficiency clients and meets necessary deadlines. The volunteer should have the ability to translate English to a different language an pass a bilingual fluency text. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

An intern interviews and advises clients, organizes files, conducts legal research, drafts papers, and conducts court hearings. The volunteer should have attended an accredited law school, have good organizational and legal skills and an ability to use computers. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

A paralegal intern drafts letters, makes phone calls, assists attorneys with case preparation, maintains case notes, conducts legal research and copies documents. The volunteer should have an ability to maintain confidentiality and have completed some paralegal coursework. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

a self-help clinic assistant helps clients with divorce forms, manages case files, and develops new materials to assist clinic volunteers. They need to be able to maintain confidentiality and have a familiarity with computers. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

A website reviewer looks over the Iowa Legal Aid website to help maintain our accessibility standards. The volunteer highlights information that is not readily available. The volunteer should have familiarity with computers and how to use Website Review documents. Spelling and punctuation also need to be a priority. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

If anyone would like a meaningful, dynamic, and professional volunteer opportunity, they should consider volunteering for Iowa Legal Aid's Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. They assist with preparation of past due returns or amending returns; audits, audit reconsiderations, appeals, or seeking collection alternatives; and providing client with basic recordkeeping tops and pointers to assist client in being more successful going forward. The volunteers should be certified public accountants and maintain confidentiality. The time commitment will depend on the volunteer's availability and Iowa Legal Aid's needs. 

We are in need of volunteers to assist with answering telephone calls, light house cleaning, and gardening at Serenity House. We also utilize volunteers to sit with patients when needed, in cases when no family is present or available. These volunteers may read to the patient, pray, talk, or just sit quietly so the patient is not alone. 

Mahaska Heath volunteers follow the same hiring process as Mahaska Health employees, including a physical, required vaccinations, background checks, and annual safety training. Mahaska Health volunteers that assist with Hospice patients and families much also complete Hospice training. 

Volunteers can help with celebrations, reading with students, helping classroom teachers prepare materials, tutoring students in reading and math, or visiting during breakfast or lunch.

We are searching for volunteers during out open hours. The cupboard is open Mondays 4:30-6:30, Wednesdays/Fridays 10:00-noon and Tuesdays/Fridays at noon. If weather is inclement enough to close schools, the cupboard is also closed. 

Our needs are as listed:

Students or children are more than welcome to help under supervision of teacher/parent/adult. 

Please contact The Ecumenical Cupboard directly with questions or inquiries. 

(641)676-4031

The Family Crisis Center is in need of a "handyman" to perform certain duties in our safe units. 

The volunteer would help do minor fixing in safe unit such as, painting, plumbing, etc. as needed. 

Volunteers must be 18 years or older, pass a background check, and willing to maintain confidentiality. 

The Family Crisis Center is looking for volunteer board members to compromise with making the difference in their community and support of effort to promote a community free of violence. Candidate must be available for monthly meetings (Video or Teleconferencing available), be dynamic and willing to support or attend our agency's event. Must be 18+ years of age. 

We are in need of long-term volunteers t learn our case management and intake system and provide assistance with the reception of calls. These volunteers are needed from 8:30am-5:00pm each weekday. This opportunity is limited to adults 18 and over. 

Volunteer will lead and assist with monthly Clover Kids meetings.

Locations: Oskaloosa, Eddyville, Fremont, & New Sharon

Clover Kids is a program for children in Kdg-3rd grade.

Must complete and pass an Extension volunteer screening, complete the Iowa 4-H New Volunteer Training (3 online modules, 1 live module), and the annual Iowa 4-H Volunteer Training. 

Clubs & Groups meet monthly for 1-2 hours.

Most clubs take August &/or September off to recruit new members and reorganize for the new 4-H year. Clover kids take July-September off to recruit new members and reorganize for the new 4-H year. 

No restrictions - Adults must pass background screening and be approved by the Mahaska County Ag Extension District Council. Meetings are held in October-June

The Ottumwa Distribution Center is offering 2 shifts a month for food sorting at the Distribution Center. The shift would be 2-3 hours long. Volunteers must be 10 years or older. The volunteers will be sorting large quantities of food and also repackaging food into smaller quantities to be sent to food pantries to give to clients. 

Food Bank of Iowa is currently seeking volunteers to work the Oskaloosa Mobile Pantry. It's once a month, the second Monday of each month. Volunteers are needed from 3pm to 5:30pm to help organize food, sort food, pass out food, client intake and help clients to their vehicles. Volunteers must be 18 or older and have the ability to lift 25 pounds or more. 

Fundraising Volunteer Position Description

Position Title: Fundraising Volunteer

Goal or purpose of position: The fundraising volunteer provides a range of support activities for Bethesda House Inc. The goal of the position is to assist in successful operations of the Bethesda House Inc. mission in order to ensure proper funding.

Major responsibilities (the following is a list of possible activities for a volunteer but not an all inclusive list nor is any volunteer expected to fill all of these roles.)

• Assisting in the development and implementation of a coordinated fundraising program.
• Planning for and managing of fundraising events.
• Handling donor acknowledgements and thank you letters.
• Identify donor prospects and research donor prospects.
• Data entry and maintenance of the data base.
• Solicitations of corporate sponsors, financial gifts, and gift-in-kind donations.
• Interacting with donors and conducting donor meetings.
• Development of donor materials, presentations, and mailings.
• Serves as an ambassador for the organization and promotes a positive image/ reputation of the ministry.

Qualifications (required, desired):

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Good listening skills.
• Available by phone and e-mail
• No previous felony convictions: subject to a criminal background check.

Time commitment: A minimum of 4 hours per month, however, more is preferred.

Pastor Jeremy needs assists in:
- Filing
- Organizing Events
- Office Administration