Serving those who Serve

City Serve Des Moines

Why we serve those who serve

June 22, 2024

City Serve exists to make a positive impact in the Des Moines Metro. Our volunteer teams are creative and consistent – serving organizations that serve our communities. We are on a mission to encourage and support our public school teachers, law enforcement officers, first responders and Iowa National Guard Soldiers.

City Serve currently partners with 16 Des Moines Metro organizations and supports more than 3500 teachers, first responders and soldiers. We are experiencing amazing opportunity that exceeds our capacity. We have new requests from additional police departments, fire departments and school districts that offer strategic areas of expansion. We plan to double in size within the next two years.

City Serve volunteers along with employees from partner businesses invest resources donated by corporate sponsorships to provide things like manpower and support for special community related events, serve lunches for groups like the DSM Police Department, help with public school initiatives and even a monthly delivery of tangible gifts to encourage our educators and first responders.

City Serve realizes that many businesses are committed to improving our community and are supportive of the same organizations. We invite you to maximize your impact by becoming a City Serve partner.

Together we can make the Des Moines Metro an even better place to live.

City Serve realizes that many businesses are committed to improving our community and are supportive of the same organizations. We invite you to maximize your impact by becoming a City Serve partner.

Together we can make the Des Moines Metro an even better place to live.

Our core support focus

law enforcement

Our law enforcement officers are literally being attacked.┬á They are under unprecedented scrutiny and often tried and convicted in the court of public opinion by a rush to judgment and video clips intended to distort reality. Law enforcement officers are losing their lives all over our nation. We know that the Des Moines Metro and surrounding agencies are no exception. Our brave men and women in blue face unpredictable traffic stops, mentally ill citizens, emotionally charged domestic disputes and armed and dangerous criminals intent on doing harm.

Teachers

In the Des Moines Public School District, the number of teachers leaving the district has doubled during the last 4 years some even leaving in the middle of the school year. Violence in the classroom, active shooter threats, lack of resources, an absence of student family support all contribute to this challenge. Although the problem is nationwide, our city’s retention challenge is worse than the national average. Our desire to help in the missile of crisis led us to action. First, I met with the superintendent of the a local school district. I asked, If you had unlimited resources and volunteers, what would you like to do for your teachers? Each suggestion came down to morale.

first responders

Our firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics work long hours and are under continual training not to mention the physical dangers that go along with the job. It’s not uncommon for them to return to the station exhausted and as they are hanging their coats, another call comes in. These calls often come with horrific tragedy and loss and can take an emotional toll on these hard working men and woman who often are volunteers.

national guard

The national guard is a unique element of our military that SERVES both country and community. They often see the worst of the worst helping with national disasters, epidemics and more. The President of the United States or any state governor can call them out on a moments notice. The guard can be stressful because you effectively have to balance two jobs. Even though its your “part time” job it will take priority without choice if deployed.