The Beacon Des Moines

Yesterday, we shared that several women in our programs were impacted by the recent SNAP/EBT card disruptions across Iowa.

Today, our community reminded us why we never walk alone.

Within hours, groceries began arriving.

Oatmeal. Bread. Milk. Eggs. Fruit. Pasta. Cereal. Snacks.

Not because anyone was asked to solve a huge problem.

Because people saw a need and decided to help.

These donations will help ensure that women at The Beacon continue to have access to food and support while replacement benefits are being processed.

To everyone who dropped off groceries, shared our post, sent messages, made donations, or simply checked in to ask how they could help, thank you.

We are continually reminded that recovery, healing, and community are not things we build alone.

Thank you for showing up.

Community ask 💛
We currently have several women in our program managing diabetes, and we are in need of diabetic-friendly snacks, food items, and meal replacement shakes to help support their health and wellbeing.
Some helpful items include:
• Crackers
• Raisins
• Fruit snacks
• 100% juice boxes
• Glucose tablets (not candy)
• Protein shakes and meal replacement shakes
• Low sugar and high protein snacks
• Shelf-stable meal items someone could make a full meal from
We have a large freezer and pantry space available, along with limited refrigerator space.
Managing diabetes while rebuilding your life, attending appointments, working, and navigating recovery can be incredibly difficult. Having safe and reliable food options available can make a meaningful difference.
If you have questions or would like to coordinate a donation, please call us and select extension 1.
Thank you for continuing to care for the women at The Beacon in such thoughtful and practical ways. New, unopened products are appreciated.
If you would like to help, items can also be shipped directly to us through our Amazon Wishlist (🔗 in bio) : https://a.co/0gKGLJi0

A woman in our program has been searching for employment for months and this week, she finally got the call. She got the job. 💛
Now we need help making sure she can start with confidence.
We are currently looking for support purchasing:
• Black work shoes
• Women’s size 9
Employment is often one of the biggest steps toward long-term stability, independence, and rebuilding confidence after crisis. Moments like this matter.
We also added the shoes directly to our Amazon Wishlist for anyone who would like to help:
Purchase the Work Shoes Here: https://a.co/0gKGLJi0 (🔗in bio)
Thank you for continuing to show up for the women at The Beacon in practical, meaningful ways.

Community update:

Multiple women at The Beacon Sherman Hill & The Beacon Village have already been impacted by the recent Iowa EBT card issue, resulting in temporary interruptions in access to SNAP benefits while replacement cards are being mailed.

The issue is expected to be temporary, but for some women, even a few days without access to grocery benefits can create additional stress during an already challenging season of life.

If you’ve been looking for a simple way to support women rebuilding their lives, this is a great week to help.

Our greatest needs right now are meal-focused items that can help women easily prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner, including:

• Shelf-stable meals
• Easy-to-prepare meals
• Oatmeal and breakfast items
• Soup and canned goods
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Cereal
• Healthy snacks
• Coffee and creamer

We also have several women managing diabetes and would appreciate:
• High-protein snacks
• Protein shakes
• Meal replacement shakes
• Diabetic-friendly food options

We do have some room available in our community fridge and lots of room in our community freezer, so fresh and frozen food donations are also welcome, including frozen meats and proteins that can help women create complete meals.

Items such as frozen chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, frozen fish, frozen vegetables, and other meal ingredients can help provide nutritious meal options while women wait for their benefits to be restored.

Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM at:

1717 Woodland Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309

Questions about coordinating a donation? Please email [email protected].

Thank you for helping ensure women have access to nutritious meals and healthy snacks while they focus on healing, recovery, employment, and long-term stability.

https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-snap-recipients-face-delays-in-receiving-replacement-ebt-cards/71437938

What a night! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Trivia Night for The Beacon.

From the friendly competition and laughter to the wine pull and community connections, it was a fun evening filled with people who believe in supporting women as they rebuild their lives.

A huge thank you to the team at Bash for generously donating your space, time, and hospitality. Your support helped make the entire event possible.

Thank you to our Board of Directors for helping plan and organize the evening, and a special thank you to Board President Shannon Sobek for serving as our trivia host.

We are also grateful to RōCA and Thistles for donating prizes and helping make the night even more memorable for our participants.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, donated, brought a team, or simply showed up. Community is built one relationship, one conversation, and one act of support at a time.

While it was a fun night of trivia, the impact reaches far beyond the answer sheets. Every dollar raised helps provide safe housing, support, accountability, and stability for women working toward healing, recovery, and long-term independence.

Thank you for being part of that story. 💛

Trivia Night is this Thursday! 💛

Still thinking about coming? Consider this your sign.

You do not need to be a trivia expert. You do not need a perfect team. You do not even need a full team of four. Come with friends, come by yourself, or come ready to meet some new people.

Join us for an evening of old school trivia while supporting women rebuilding their lives at The Beacon.

Every $26 ticket provides one full day of safe housing, support, and stability for a woman working toward healing, recovery, and long-term independence.

This is not short-term help.
It is long-term change.

Thursday, May 28
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Bash | 1312 Locust St #101, Des Moines

Wine pull available
Food and beverages available for purchase

Get your tickets here:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/beacontrivianight2026/event/beacontrivianightmay2026/

Community ask 💛

We are looking for donations of new hair care products for the women at The Beacon, with a specific need for products that support Black women and women of color, along with conditioner and products that support a variety of hair types.

Every woman deserves to feel seen, cared for, beautiful, and empowered. Hair care is more than shampoo and conditioner. It can be connected to confidence, identity, self-care, and feeling like yourself again.

Current needs include:

• Products for textured, curly, coily, and natural hair
• Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners
• Leave-in conditioners
• Hair oils and moisturizing products
• General conditioners for all hair types
• Hair care essentials

For anyone who would like to help, we’ve also made it easy through our Amazon Wishlist. Items ship directly to our doors:

Check out my list on Amazon

We're hiring at The Beacon.

Some jobs are about tasks. This one is about people.

We're looking for a full-time Case Manager to walk alongside women rebuilding their lives after crisis, trauma, addiction, incarceration, housing instability, and other barriers.

At The Beacon, women find more than a place to stay. They find support, accountability, safety, and space to heal and grow.

We're looking for someone who:

• Leads with compassion and accountability
• Believes in second chances
• Shows up consistently and works as part of a team
• Meets women where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be

Position Details:

• Full-time salaried position
• $50,000 to $55,000 based on experience
• Full medical coverage provided
• Fully on-site in Des Moines

Lived experience matters here too.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them below or help us spread the word by sharing this post.

To apply: send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]

More than a place to stay. A place to bloom.

A huge thank you to Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and Beth Shelton for donating Girl Scout cookies to the women at The Beacon.

Something sweet from such a thoughtful and community-minded organization.

Acts of kindness like this may seem small, but they help create moments of comfort, connection, and normalcy for women rebuilding their lives after trauma, homelessness, addiction, and crisis.

At The Beacon, healing happens not only through housing and programming, but also through community members showing up in meaningful ways to remind women they are seen, valued, and cared for.

Thank you for helping make our community a little sweeter. 💛