Volunteer Update:
We are opening more volunteer shifts for teams and individuals! We now have a Bike Refurbishment Shop and a Sewing Machine Shop, as well as more volunteer opportunities that let us open up more availability!
You'll be impacting the world right from Iowa, while learning ways to engage your community in mission.
Midwest Mission Iowa Volunteer Shifts
Important To Know
We are open to volunteers Monday - Thursday.
AM Shift: 9am-12pm
PM Shift: 12pm-3pm
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays have limited availability.
Reservations are required to volunteer. Space is limited to 12 volunteers per shift.
Call 217-483-7911 to reserve your volunteer shift.
The Material Fee covers a portion of the cost of the materials you will be assembling while at Midwest Mission. The fee is $8 per shift.
(The fee for Friday-Sunday is $16 per day.)
While at Midwest Mission, volunteers could:
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Refurbish bikes
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Sort items
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Clean
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Assemble Kits
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Refurbish sewing machines
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Sew
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Weave Sleeping Mats
If you are an individual that would like to refurbish bikes or sewing machines, or would like to volunteer on a regular basis, please call our Iowa Volunteer Coordinator, Alaire Willits, at 712-212-5333
How to Volunteer
01
Reserve your shift(s)
Call our Reservations Coordinator at 217-483-7911. Together, you'll book an available date for you or your team.
02
Confirmation Email
After you've decided on a date and number of volunteers, you'll receive an email to confirm the details of your reservation, and to give you payment details for your material fee(s) for your shift(s).
03
Follow Up
Before your volunteer shift, an Iowa team member will reach out to you to learn more about your team, to give lodging and food recommendations, and to begin planning an itinerary for your time with us!
04
Build Your Team
Two weeks in advance of your shift, you must send your final team roster to our Reservations Team.
05
Experience the JOY of serving
Before you know it, your shift will be here! We can't wait to meet you, and experience the joy of serving alongside you. You'll leave with ideas about how to serve right where you are!
HOW LONG ARE VOLUNTEER SHIFTS?
We are open to volunteers:
Monday - Thursday 9am - 3pm.
You can serve one shift, up to four shifts at a time.
There are 2 shifts a day. You are welcome to serve for one or both shifts.
Morning Shift 9am - 12pm
Afternoon Shift 12pm - 3pm
You can inquire about available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shifts as well. These are based on availability.
Reservations must be made ahead of time by calling 217-483-7911.
*To make sure we have availability for new volunteers, teams that would like to come regularly can volunteer up to once a month.
WHAT TYPE OF WORK WILL I BE DOING?
At Midwest Mission, we strive to accommodate a wide variety of ability levels, from sit down work to manual labor.
While at Midwest Mission, volunteers will:
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Refurbish bicycles and sewing machines
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Sort items
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Sew
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Clean
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Weave Sleeping Mats
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Assemble Kits
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Or whatever the current requested needs are at the time
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?
We welcome both teams and individuals to serve with us.
Serving as a team is a great way to build community, get new people involved, and make a great impact together. Teams must be scheduled together.
Serving as an individual is a great way to meet mission-minded people. If you are local - or like to travel - you can become a "regular" and serve consistently with us.
WHAT AGE CAN VOLUNTEER?
Individual volunteers must be age 18 or older.
For youth groups, those 14-18 years old must have a chaperone ratio of 1 chaperone per 5 students.
Students 11-13 years old must have a chaperone ratio of 1 chaperone per 4 students.
Chaperones must remain with the volunteer and their group the whole time.
CAN I TAKE A TOUR?
Absolutely! During your time serving at Midwest Mission, we will take you on a tour.
If you would like to take a tour before serving, you can contact Alaire Willits at alaire@midwestmission.org to schedule your tour.
DO YOU HAVE OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS?
While we do not have overnight accommodations on our Jefferson campus, there are a couple of lodging options we recommend in Jefferson. You can see them here.
DO YOU TAKE WALK-INS?
We do not take walk-ins at this time.
You must schedule a volunteer shift to serve with us at Midwest Mission. This is because we have a daily limit of 12 mission volunteers. We want to give each person a great volunteer experience and make sure our high quality standards are still being met.
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When scheduling your group, please sign up for as many as you will bring - we cannot accommodate more than are signed up.
Midwest Mission Gifts
Although we do not take volunteer walk-ins, feel free to stop by our Midwest Mission Gift Shop Monday-Thursday, 9am-3pm.
Overnight Accommodations
We do not have on-site accommodations, but there are off-site options available.
Cobblestone Hotel and Suites
771 Wild Rose Lane, Jefferson, IA 50129
staycobblestone.com/ia/jefferson/
Mention "Midwest Mission" when reserving your stay to get a special rate.
Jefferson First United Methodist Church
307 S Wilson Ave, Jefferson, IA 50129
Jefferson FUMC has dorm space available for up to 12 guests.
The cost is $10 per person, per night.
It includes:
- 6 sets of bunk beds (sleeps 12)
- Multiple common areas with a TV + streaming
- Full Kitchen
- Other activities such as a large recreational space with shuffleboard, a prayer labyrinth, a memory garden, and basketball hoops and a tennis court next door at Russell Park.
*At this moment, there are no showers available at the church. Showers are available at the REC center just a block away. Showers plan to be added soon.
For more information, or to book your stay, please contact the church: 515-386-4411 or email secretary@jeffumc.com
*This stay is through Jefferson FUMC, and is not tied to Midwest Mission Iowa