Volunteer Iowa Update - May 2025

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Iowa AmeriCorps Update

Volunteer Iowa received notification from the federal government late Friday, April 25 that half of the active AmeriCorps grants Volunteer Iowa administers were to cease operations. These grants represent 43% of Iowa AmeriCorps State members in addition to 100% of AmeriCorps VISTA members. We are working with programs and members to mitigate impact to the largest extent possible and help AmeriCorps members effectively transition. Volunteer Iowa has activated our Iowa AmeriCorps member emergency fund to help members during this period of transition, and we are working with agency partners to try and ensure core services can continue.

Volunteer Iowa Awards Ceremony

On Thursday, April 24, the Volunteer Iowa Awards Ceremony was held at the Iowa State Capitol. Five individuals and one group were inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. Two individuals were honored at the ceremony by receiving the Excellence in Mentoring award.

We honored six Volunteer Hall of Fame inductees who have contributed service in their communities including in health and hospice care, youth support and empowerment, library services and improvements, diabetes and cancer awareness, and support for our veterans in our state. They have organized health screenings and provided hospice and grief counseling. These volunteers have gone above and beyond, committing countless hours to community improvement activities and cultural enrichment, answering the call for service wherever and however it is needed.

The two individuals who received the 2025 Excellence in Mentoring awards have positively impacted the lives and families of the young people they mentor, as well as their own, often leading to a change in the trajectory of the lives of all involved. They have also actively and consistently recruited other mentors, growing the impact of mentoring in their communities.

Learn more about the 2025 awardees:

Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame inductees
Excellence in Mentoring Award recipients

A group of individuals posed on a staircase after receiving an award

Give Back Iowa Challenge

The 11th Annual Give Back Iowa Challenge has begun! The Give Back Iowa Challenge is an eight-week statewide challenge, which serves as a competitive way to encourage organizations and businesses alike to participate in community volunteering. The Challenge runs from April 1st through May 31st. Your business or organization can still register your organization to participate. Then all you need to do is track the hours of your employees, record those hours on our system, and celebrate your employees and their dedication to volunteerism!

There are a variety of ways to help out in your community. There are many volunteer opportunities statewide, including youth mentoring, college and career mentoring, assisting food banks and food pantries with packaging and distribution, skills-based opportunities, and more. Volunteer opportunities in your area can be found on our statewide volunteer opportunities portal Get Connected.

Visit the Give Back Iowa Challenge website to learn more about this year's challenge. Please contact Betsy Shelton at betsy.shelton@volunteeriowa.org with questions.

Join Our Commission!

Do you have an interest in improving and expanding national service and volunteerism in the state of Iowa? Then you should apply to join our commission! We are accepting applications to fill open commission slots in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Commission appointments are three-year terms and begin on July 1, 2025. Apply today at Iowa Talent Bank or contact info@volunteeriowa.org.

Current Volunteer Iowa Opportunities

Volunteer with us! Find volunteer opportunities with Volunteer Iowa here: Volunteer Iowa | Volunteer Iowa (galaxydigital.com)

Other Iowa AmeriCorps programs supported by Volunteer Iowa are also recruiting now. Find a listing of Iowa AmeriCorps programs at Join AmeriCorps | Volunteer Iowa.

Volunteerism in the News

Important Dates

May: Older Americans Month
May: National Mental Health Awareness Month
May 4-10: Public Service Recognition Week
May 11: Mother’s Day
May 16: National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
May 26: Memorial Day
May 28: National Senior Health and Fitness Day
June 14: Flag Day
June 15: Father's Day

Looking for a way to give back? Visit Get Connected today to find volunteer opportunities. Organizations can post volunteer opportunities on Get Connected as well at no cost.

This email was sent to you by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. https://hhs.iowa.gov/