Donations In June, our Mission of the Month will focus on collecting donations for the DMARC Food Pantry. This document gives a list of their most needed items, but the TOP THREE items they request are peanut butter, fruit canned in 100% juice, and whole grain cereal. Please place donations in the gray Mission of the Month bins. 

Please give monetarily by writing "June Mission of the Month" on your check memo or simply give online.

All are welcome to make cloth diapers from old t-shirts for orphanages in Haiti on Saturday, June 10, 8:30-noon, Uptown Fellowship Hall. We need helpers to cut, pin, sew, turn, and hem as well as those who bring sewing machines. Contact Nancy Miller, 515-964-8669,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with questions. Bring a friend for coffee, sewing and fellowship. Other Diaper Days scheduled are August 26, and October 14.

One of the ministries of the church is to welcome newborns and newly baptized babies with a gift. The gift includes a cloth bag made by one of the senior residents at AHEPA, as well as a baby blanket made by our craft group. We’d like to include two burp rags with each bag. We have an easy-to-follow pattern for you to use. If you’re interested in helping with this project, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• The Setup Crew will unload the truck and set up various work stations for the day.
• The Cut/Layout team will cut all the lumber and mark the layout for the wall panels.
• Wall Builders will assemble the wall panels, which may include the use of various tools, such as saws, routers, and hammers.
• The Cleanup Crew will pick up tools, debris, and building materials and help load the truck.

Ankeny Circle of Faith Panel Build Registration Link

Join others and volunteer during the growing season at The Agape Garden! Each Monday and Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30pm we will host workdays to nurture the garden. There will be a leader present to assist with instructions.

The garden is located at our Faith Chapel site at 7384 NW 16th Street, Ankeny. We will not meet on holidays. If you have any questions, you may contact the Ministry Team Lead, Art Decker This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (515) 229-1964.

What a great way to respond to God’s love in our community! Every pint saves or sustains another life! Sign up for our May 30 Blood Drive at our Uptown location, 1:00-6:00pm. Register at www.lifeservebloodcenter.org. Questions? Contact Judy Ruble, 515.729.9482.

Ankeny Summer Lunch Program

Love Lunches is a summer lunch program that runs this summer from June 5 through August 17. Our church and three other churches support the West Side program at Sunset Park. The program is solely supported by donations and is not affiliated with the school district.

Love Lunches needs your support by:

• Signing up to help prepare, transport, or serve the food. The sign-up link is http://bit.ly/LoveLunch23
• Donating nonperishable items such as individually wrapped/or packaged: teddy grahams, goldfish crackers, animal crackers, granola bars, fruit cups, and applesauce cups.
• Donating grocery gift cards to Costco, Sam’s Club, Fareway, Aldi’s, or Hy-Vee

Bring all donations to the Uptown church office.

Contact Holly Szcodronski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information.  

The Bidwell Pantry needs our help! United Women in Faith (UWIF) have scheduled a workday for Saturday, June 17  from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Projects are available for all ages and abilities from stocking shelves, hanging donated clothing, cleaning, organizing, making kits, etc. Please join our Ankeny First group and see how Bidwell functions as the largest distribution center in Iowa.

We will be carpooling from the north Uptown parking lot leaving promptly at 8:30 a.m. Or come and go throughout the mornings as it fits your schedule. Your support and assistance are needed! Address: 1203 Hartford Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315.

Questions?

• Mary Johnson (515) 771-5591 from Ankeny First
• Missy Reams (515) 243-6502 at Bidwell.

VIEW THIS VIDEO to hear more about Bidwell and how they utilize volunteers like you!

• Help Bidwell with urgent needs! They immediately need used plastic grocery bags (or any kind of grocery bags) for the food pantry AND laundry detergent pods.
• Most needed donations for YMCA Supportive Housing right now! Toilet paper, plastic trash bags (13 gallon), and gently used silverware (especially forks).

Bring all items to the Uptown site and place them in the marked bins in the "old" library.

Find instructions HERE!

Volunteers Needed for Meals We Serve to Des Moines Agencies

YMCA Supportive Housing Meal Eight volunteers are needed each 3rd Tuesday of the month to manage a meal for the residents of the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus in Des Moines. The eight volunteers share the duties of meal prep, serving and clean-up. You are needed by 5:45pm and you will be finished up by 7:45pm. If you are brand new to this mission opportunity, there will be people there to assist you and get you going with needed tasks. Sign up here.

Trinity Supper Club Meals: First Wednesdays AND Fourth Tuesdays
A team of volunteers meets at the Christian Life Center to prepare meals and deliver them to Trinity Las Americas in downtown Des Moines, which goes to the community and after-school children. To make that happen, we need you! There are opportunities to bake cookies, prep meals, or deliver meals.

• First Wednesdays: Please sign up HERE.
• Fourth Tuesdays: Please sign up HERE.

Central Iowa Shelter & Services Meal Join us as we serve a meal for our neighbors at Central Iowa Homeless Shelter in Des Moines on the 21st of each month. This is a wonderful way to respond to God's love and command to love our neighbors. There are opportunities to help with serving the meal, and driving the food and helpers down to the shelter. Find more information and register here.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.