Volunteering During COVID-19 Closures
For students who still have hours to complete, we are relaxing Silver Cord guidelines until further notice. You can now volunteer in your own home, volunteer for your family or someone else in need that is not an official non-profit organization, and/or have a parent serve as the supervisor for a volunteer activity.
See below for a list of ideas for volunteer activities you can complete at home. They will also be listed in the Silver Cord Online drop-down list. These activities are pre-approved and do not have to submitted for individual pre-approval.
You can also come up with ideas of your own and submit for credit using the pre-approval titled: “2020 WDMCS Silver Cord – Volunteering at Home,” which can be found on the Silver Cord Online drop-down list when you submit for credit.
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WDMCS Nutrition – Meal Kit Packing
January 1-February 26
8-10am and 10-Noon
VHS, VSW, IH, ST
Packing meal kits to provide to students in the district for our snack and supper meal kit program. Meals are provided free of charge to any students in the West Des Moines Schools funded by CACFP, USDA grant programs.
VHS, VSW, IH, ST
3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265
How to sign up: Sign up link
Shift Times: 8-10am 10am-12pm
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Stilwell – Band Solo Festival
January 1-March 9
3:15pm - 7:10pm
Stilwell Junior High
We need a few volunteers to help with our Stilwell Band Solo Contest this year. The contest will start at 3:15 and will be done by 7:10. We need approximately 4 - 8 people to serve as center monitors. Your job will be to sit at the entrance to a performance center, cross off names of students who have already performed, and make sure that only one student enters the room between performances.
Stilwell Junior High
1601 Vine Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
How to sign up: Please contact Jon Lewis at lewisj@wdmcs.org to sign up. I will need to know if you can work the entire shift or if you can work part of the time.
Shift Times: Full shift will be 3:15 to 7:10. There will be partial shifts available for centers that run from 4:15 or 4:30 to 7:00 also. In addition, you could work a half shift. (3:15 - 5:30 or 5:30 to 7:10) Let me know what you can do.
Additional Information Wearing masks is required. We will be limiting the amount of students in the building at a time.
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VHS – Create Cards for Patients and Doctors – Veda Amalkar
December 9-April 30
At Home
Create cards for patients/doctors in our community! (Ex. thank you cards for doctors, words of encouragement for patients). They can be decorated in any way you like and is appropriate. Please avoid anything religious/political. Once you create the card, take pictures of the inside and outside and email to va38413@wdmcs.org. One hour of credit will be awarded per card. Physical cards will be collected at a later date (upon return to school).
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Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award – Emma Thompson, (T.E.C.H.S.) Teen Electronics and Cyber Help for Seniors
January 1-May 31
Senior Living Communities (On Zoom for now because of COVID)
TECHS, which stands for Teen Electronics & Cyber Help for Seniors is a program created to have high school volunteers meet with seniors living at senior living communities and help them with simple-fix technology questions. You do not need to be a tech guru, just have a general knowledge of typical devices and the ability to look things up on the fly.
Senior Living Communities (On Zoom for now because of COVID)
128 S 61st Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266
How to sign up: After applying to be a volunteer on the website, interested volunteers will receive an email regarding training and signing up for shifts.
Shift Times: Shifts vary, but volunteers will be able to sign up for shifts via the calendar link after they have applied to be a volunteer.
Additional Information This program was created by Emma Thompson for the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award. Please fill out the application to be considered for this volunteer opportunity.
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VHS Honors Project – Risha Shetye – Valley Mental Health Project Speaker Series
September 23-May 31
Over Zoom. A link will be sent out the day of the event.
The VMH Project is an Honors project organized by Risha Shetye. All students are welcome to attend the online series to discuss issues related to mental health in our community. Students can receive hours for participating in a discussion about mental health. Students will volunteer their time by participating in critical discussions that can open up inclusive spaces. 6:00-7:30 PM
Over Zoom. A link will be sent out the day of the event.
How to sign up: Use the link to register. A link for the Zoom will be sent out the day of the event.
Additional Information 6:00-7:30 PM
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2020 WDMCS Silver Cord – Des Moines Rocks!
April 1-December 31
neighborhoods, walking trails and bike paths
On the Des Moines Rocks Facebook page there is a "forms" link which will take you to directions on how to paint rocks. May sure you take a picture of your rock and download it when you submit your hours online.
neighborhoods, walking trails and bike paths
Additional Information Des Moines Rocks is supported by community members, young and old, sharing joy and kindness by painting and hiding rocks to bring smiles to others in our community since 2016. Check out the Des Moines Rocks Facebook page or go to Pinterest for rock painting ideas.
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Children’s Cancer Connection Blankets (August – May)
January 1-December 31
Valley High School Counseling Center
During the school year WDMCS Silver Cord collects tie blankets for The Children’s Cancer Connection. Handmade polar fleece tie blankets for both boys and girls ages 5-18 are needed.
Valley High School Counseling Center
Additional Information Two hours of Silver Cord Credit can be earned by purchasing the fleece, making the blanket. Students can make one blanket a month. PLEASE note: in order to get credit you must remember to cut off the salvage of the fleece as well as make sure you knot the strips (not just tie them once). To learn how to make a blanket please review the attached directions.