Needs From: Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank! We appreciate your support of our mission of supporting everyone experiencing food insecurity throughout northeast Iowa. Help make a direct impact in the community by assisting in the Cedar Valley Food Pantry and helping feed the community. Pantry volunteers will assist pantry staff in stocking shelves, sorting produce, sorting food donations, and assisting community members with their shopping if needed.

To sign up immediately through our website, please visit NEIFB Volunteer Website and locate "CVFP Morning, All Day, Mid-Morning, or Afternoon Shifts" on the calendar. Sign up through VolunteerHub and start receiving notifications for your volunteer time! For questions or assistance with signing up, please contact Raechel Miller at rmiller@neifb.org.

Location: 1605 Lafayette Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703

Cedar Valley Food Pantry Volunteer

2-6 Hours | 8:45am-11:00am, 9:00am-3:00pm, 11:00am-1:00pm, 1:00pm-3:30pm

You must wear closed toe shoes. 

Middle School Lesson

Volunteers are needed to provide encouragement to students and help students complete financial lessons. Lessons occur weekly every Wednesday after school (3:20pm-4:30pm) at the First Congregational Church in Waterloo.  Walk alongside Middle School students, pointing them towards financial and life success through encouragement, role modeling, financial stewardship training, and academic support!

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide encouragement and positive role modeling to students 

Sit at a table with students and help them complete assignments

Interested volunteers may contact Seth Stearns: seth@thejobfoundation.org, or call/text 319-823-1095

Mentors

Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to help youth in the Cedar Valley?  The Job Foundation is a Financial Stewardship Mentoring Program that equips K – 12 students and their families for economic advancement.  We have 60 kids in our program waiting to be matched with a mentor....is it you?!

We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about building relationships that nurture education so that children can learn tools and skills for financial freedom and success. Our vision is "All people achieving financial success".  The minimum requirement is only 4 hours per month.  

The main goal in mentoring is to build a positive, healthy, connection that encourages and develops higher self-esteem in children which can help them achieve success in many ways.  Mentors develop a unique bond and encourage young lives.

For the benefit of students (and volunteers), all The Job Foundation mentors undergo an initial screening, orientation and training, and then receive ongoing volunteer training.  We ask for an 12-month commitment for Mentors as we recognize the need for consistency and trust for children and families. There will also be a required DMV check and a background check. The ability to provide transportation is a requirement. There are also local activities and discounts provided to the matches for fun activities in the area! 

Please contact Seth Stearns if you are interested in learning more!

seth@thejobfoundation.org or call 319-823-1095.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this position is to make it easy for parents/caregivers and kids to experience the value of community service together in a fun way. The volunteer will be the coordinator and collaborate with the VCCV Youth Program Coordinator to create, plan, and host these monthly family-friendly opportunities.

NEEDED:

A person is needed to organize one service activity per month for families at a nonprofit agency in the community. The volunteer will be supervised by a Youth Program Coordinator.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Pick a topic each month and plan an activity around that theme (i.e. elderly care theme and playing games in a nursing home; animal welfare theme and making dog blankets for humane society, etc.). Use our participants in MLK Day of Service and Family Volunteer Day activities to find initial participants. Advertise availability of service and dates on home page, newsletters, and other marketing resources in partnership with the VCCV’s Communications Coordinator.

COMMITMENT

4-6 hours a month: 2-3 hours to plan and 2-4 hours to implement. This position must be available the day of the events.

BENEFITS

Networking and collaboration, skill development, resume builder, fulfillment of civic responsibility. 

REQUIREMENTS

High School Graduate and 18 years of age or older. Background check required.

KEY CONTACT

Jean Seeland, Youth Program Coordinator; Jean_Seeland@vccv.org, (319) 272-2087

Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center is seeking some energetic, young volunteers who enjoy spending time with young children to volunteer with our summer program filled with activities and excitement! The children are ages 18 months through 10 years from diverse backgrounds, families, and abilities. Activities will involve guest visitors, field trips, learning centers, indoor/outdoor play settings, and more! Opportunities are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

This volunteer opportunity provides for practical "hands on" learning experiences with children, unique activities, and an opportunity to volunteer in a licensed preschool and child care center celebrating 49 years of service to families in the Cedar Valley.

Volunteers will be with staff at all times. They will not be responsible for children's personal cares (toileting, changing, medications, etc.). They would be involved in indoor and outdoor activities with the children, including reading stories, fine motor activities like puzzles and board games, building with blocks, meals and snacks, and special events (guest visitors, field trips, etc.). Our summer schedule is filled with many opportunities to enhance children's learning and enjoyment!

PURPOSE
To lead the Board of Directors in efforts to develop and coordinate a plan of awareness building support for the organization, and to develop and implement a written year-round marketing program that interprets the activities, purpose and needs of the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley and makes use of all available media outlets. 

APPOINTMENT
The Marketing Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Directors.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assist staff by bringing best practices, knowledge and expertise of marketing techniques to increase public awareness and business partnerships of the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

2. Develop an overall communication plan/strategy to build awareness for the organization and opportunities to volunteer.

3. Identify and establish an on-going relationship with all media outlets and appropriate contact people

4. Identify, plan, organize, and arrange activities, events and speaking opportunities.

COMMITMENT
One hour monthly for Committee meeting. Additional time commitment may be required depending on tasks and planned activities.

BENEFITS
Networking, skill development, resume builder, fulfillment of civic responsibility.

KEY CONTACT
Lauren Finke, Executive Director; lauren_finke@vccv.org; (319) 272-2087

PURPOSE
To lead the Board of Directors in efforts to develop and coordinate a plan of broad base financial support for the organization including grant dollars and non-grant dollars to support the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s annual budget.  

APPOINTMENT
The Fundraising Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Directors. Each fiscal year, the Board of Director’s President will ask for a chairperson of the committee. There is no minimum or maximum number of members to this committee. This committee may appoint non-Board Members to help fulfill their functions. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Develop policies, plans, procedures and schedules in fundraising

2. Achieve 100% participation of the Board of Directors in the support of the Annual Fund Drive

3. Grow annual giving through expanding base of corporate donors, individuals and previous supporters.

4. Implement additional fundraising ideas, such as new fundraising events approved by the BOD, to support the annual budget.

5. To cultivate new sources of revenue while maintaining and expanding present sources

COMMITMENT
One hour monthly for Committee meeting. Additional time commitment may be required depending on tasks and planned activities.

BENEFITS
Networking, skill development, resume builder, fulfillment of civic responsibility.

KEY CONTACT
Lauren Finke, Executive Director; lauren_finke@vccv.org; (319) 272-2087

PURPOSE
The Appetite for Service Committee plans and executes the large Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley fundraiser each spring.

APPOINTMENT
The Appetite for Service Committee is commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Directors. Each fiscal year, the Board of Director’s President will ask for a chairperson of the committee. There is no minimum or maximum number of members to this committee. This committee may appoint non-Board Members to help fulfill their functions. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Discuss event layout and activities

2. Meet deadlines set forth in the event timeline

3. Assist with the recruitment of table sponsors

4. Assist with the recruitment of silent auction items and packages

5. Assist with the collection of live auction packages

6. Assist with the recruitment of celebrity servers

7. Attend the Appetite for Service dinner

COMMITMENT
One hour monthly for Committee meeting, with occasional other meetings as event approaches. Assistance with day-of event set-up and attendance at event.

BENEFITS
Networking, skill development, resume builder, fulfillment of civic responsibility.

KEY CONTACT
Lauren Finke, Executive Director; lauren_finke@vccv.org; (319) 272-2087