disabilities

BEST BUDDIES
Mission: The mission of Best Buddies Iowa is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Opportunities for Simpson students include friendship with Indianola residents with intellectual disabilities. Commitment includes meeting twice per month for any one-to-one activity, having weekly contact through phone and email, and attending group meetings once per month with other students who participate in Best Buddies.
Contact: Ben Kaufman, Program Manager for Iowa Colleges
Address: 300 Walnut, Suite 140, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-282-6218 Fax: 515-282-6221
Email: BenKaufman@bestbuddies.org
Website: www.BestBuddiesIowa.org

CHILDSERVE
Mission: ChildServe, formerly the Convalescent Home for Children, is a not-for-profit organization based in central Iowa. ChildServe partners with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life. Direct service opportunities include spending time with the children, reading, rocking, assisting recreational therapy activities and much more.
Indirect service opportunities include assisting our staff with tasks around facilities like leaf raking, gardening, and painting.
There are opportunities for individuals, groups such as service organizations, church groups, children's clubs, and even families, as there roles available for both adults and children.
Contact: Kaylene Steele, Volunteer Coordinator
ChildServe Center, 5406 Merle Hay Road, P.O. Box 707, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone: 515-331-8139 Fax: 515-727-8757

CHRISTIAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER
Description: Serves persons with disabilities. Assistance is provided in the following areas: Vocational, residential, educational and rehabilitative. Possible volunteer opportunities, among others, include: transporting clients, visiting group homes, assisting with swimming, teaching computer skills, and bowling. Headquarters, workshop and group homes are located in Pella; some services are now located in Des Moines, Oskaloosa and Indianola.
Pella: Developmentally Disabled Persons, Companionship
Contact: Carmen Meling, 961-3653 x210, volunteer coordinator
Address: 1602 North 14th St., Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: 515-961-3653
Website: http://www.christianopportunity.org/volunteer.html

GENESIS DEVELOPMENT
Mission: To provide opportunities and support for people with disabilities so they may work and live at a level consistent with their choices and abilities. Assistance is provided in the following areas: Vocational, residential, educational and rehabilitative. Possible volunteer opportunities, among others, include: team building games, art activities, share individual talents such as music, individual partnering for activities with clients, recreation, community outings, Special Olympics training.
Contact: Jackie Haupert, 961-7004, jackie@genesisdevelopment.com or Terri Echternacht, 961-6918, jackie@genesisdevelopment.com
Address: 307 South Jefferson St., Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: 515-961-6918
FAX: 515-961-6913
Website: http://www.genesisdevelopment.com/

MOSAIC
Description: Mosaic provides support and advocacy in partnership with people who have disabilities, that all may realize God’s gift of wholeness of life. Mosaic’s staff and supporters believe that every individual is a person of worth. Opportunities to serve include companionship for homebound, group projects to help clients with home care such as cleaning, gardening, etc.
Contact: Karen Jackson, Community Relations Manager, email: karen.jackson@mosaicinfo.org
Address: 303 Locust, Suite 300, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-237-0008
Website: www.mosaicinfo.org

SPECIAL OLYMPICS IOWA
Mission: Special Olympics Iowa is a statewide organization providing persons with mental handicaps year-round sports training and competition in 23 Olympic-style sports. In its 26th year, Special Olympics Iowa runs eighty competitions and events per year at the state and local level.
Volunteers are needed as event volunteers, volunteer coaches and to work with the Simpson College chapter of Unified Sports, a program that combines a team of students and people with disabilities.
Contact: We have worked with Marlys West, the West Central Special Olympics contact. Marlys can be reached for more information at 515-244-6694
Address: 3737 Woodland Avenue Suite 325, West Des Moines, IA, 50266-1930
Phone: 515-267-0131 Fax: 515-267-0232
email: soiowa@soiowa.org
Website: http://www.soiowa.org

WARREN COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS
Mission: Primarily a service organization for the mentally-handicapped, this agency provides services to over 100 country residents including camp trips to Camp Courageous, the Career Development Center, assistance of the group home for five developmentally disabled adults in Indianola, support for Special Olympics and financial support with early intervention for preschoolers. The ARC also offers scholarships to students and teachers pursuing or furthering careers in special education or serving people with special needs.
Volunteers are needed to help out with the operation of this association, to do mostly organizational and advocacy work.
Contact: The Arc of Iowa
Address: 715 East Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-1915
Phone: 515-283-2358

Return to Service Opportunities Page


	Faculty Students Community After Graduation Forms Service Opportunities Reflection
Special Needs/Disabilities BEST BUDDIES Mission: The mission of Best Buddies Iowa is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Opportunities for Simpson students include friendship with Indianola residents with intellectual disabilities. Commitment includes meeting twice per month for any one-to-one activity, having weekly contact through phone and email, and attending group meetings once per month with other students who participate in Best Buddies. Contact: Ben Kaufman, Program Manager for Iowa Colleges Address: 300 Walnut, Suite 140, Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 515-282-6218 Fax: 515-282-6221 Email: BenKaufman@bestbuddies.org Website: www.BestBuddiesIowa.org CHILDSERVE Mission: ChildServe, formerly the Convalescent Home for Children, is a not-for-profit organization based in central Iowa. ChildServe partners with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life. Direct service opportunities include spending time with the children, reading, rocking, assisting recreational therapy activities and much more. Indirect service opportunities include assisting our staff with tasks around facilities like leaf raking, gardening, and painting. There are opportunities for individuals, groups such as service organizations, church groups, children's clubs, and even families, as there roles available for both adults and children. Contact: Kaylene Steele, Volunteer Coordinator ChildServe Center, 5406 Merle Hay Road, P.O. Box 707, Johnston, IA 50131 Phone: 515-331-8139 Fax: 515-727-8757 CHRISTIAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER Description: Serves persons with disabilities. Assistance is provided in the following areas: Vocational, residential, educational and rehabilitative. Possible volunteer opportunities, among others, include: transporting clients, visiting group homes, assisting with swimming, teaching computer skills, and bowling. Headquarters, workshop and group homes are located in Pella; some services are now located in Des Moines, Oskaloosa and Indianola. Pella: Developmentally Disabled Persons, Companionship Contact: Carmen Meling, 961-3653 x210, volunteer coordinator Address: 1602 North 14th St., Indianola, IA 50125 Phone: 515-961-3653 Website: http://www.christianopportunity.org/volunteer.html GENESIS DEVELOPMENT Mission: To provide opportunities and support for people with disabilities so they may work and live at a level consistent with their choices and abilities. Assistance is provided in the following areas: Vocational, residential, educational and rehabilitative. Possible volunteer opportunities, among others, include: team building games, art activities, share individual talents such as music, individual partnering for activities with clients, recreation, community outings, Special Olympics training. Contact: Jackie Haupert, 961-7004, jackie@genesisdevelopment.com or Terri Echternacht, 961-6918, jackie@genesisdevelopment.com Address: 307 South Jefferson St., Indianola, IA 50125 Phone: 515-961-6918 FAX: 515-961-6913 Website: http://www.genesisdevelopment.com/ MOSAIC Description: Mosaic provides support and advocacy in partnership with people who have disabilities, that all may realize God’s gift of wholeness of life. Mosaic’s staff and supporters believe that every individual is a person of worth. Opportunities to serve include companionship for homebound, group projects to help clients with home care such as cleaning, gardening, etc. Contact: Karen Jackson, Community Relations Manager, email: karen.jackson@mosaicinfo.org Address: 303 Locust, Suite 300, Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 515-237-0008 Website: www.mosaicinfo.org SPECIAL OLYMPICS IOWA Mission: Special Olympics Iowa is a statewide organization providing persons with mental handicaps year-round sports training and competition in 23 Olympic-style sports. In its 26th year, Special Olympics Iowa runs eighty competitions and events per year at the state and local level. Volunteers are needed as event volunteers, volunteer coaches and to work with the Simpson College chapter of Unified Sports, a program that combines a team of students and people with disabilities. Contact: We have worked with Marlys West, the West Central Special Olympics contact. Marlys can be reached for more information at 515-244-6694 Address: 3737 Woodland Avenue Suite 325, West Des Moines, IA, 50266-1930 Phone: 515-267-0131 Fax: 515-267-0232 email: soiowa@soiowa.org Website: http://www.soiowa.org WARREN COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS Mission: Primarily a service organization for the mentally-handicapped, this agency provides services to over 100 country residents including camp trips to Camp Courageous, the Career Development Center, assistance of the group home for five developmentally disabled adults in Indianola, support for Special Olympics and financial support with early intervention for preschoolers. The ARC also offers scholarships to students and teachers pursuing or furthering careers in special education or serving people with special needs. Volunteers are needed to help out with the operation of this association, to do mostly organizational and advocacy work. Contact: The Arc of Iowa Address: 715 East Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-1915 Phone: 515-283-2358 Return to Service Opportunities Page
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