Families Forward

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Families Forward Over 100 years of providing compassionate, life-changing assistance to families.

Empowering positive futures: Over 100 years of providing compassionate, life-changing assistance to families on their path to self-sufficiency. As of July 2023, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work together to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.​

The easiest way to ensure that Families Forward can continue to operate these life-changing programs is through financial contributions. You can donate here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/brc

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs

10/21/2026

Those plastic grocery bags piling up at home? We’d love to take them off your hands!

Our Pantry is in need of plastic grocery bags to help our neighbors carry home the food and essentials they receive.

♻️ Instead of tossing them, give your bags a second purpose by donating them to Families Forward!

💚 Thank you!

Families Forward is featured in Target Circle™! 🎯Vote for Families Forward in the Target app to direct Target funds that...
10/16/2026

Families Forward is featured in Target Circle™! 🎯

Vote for Families Forward in the Target app to direct Target funds that support our work. Here’s how:

1. Choose “My Target” in the Target app, or visit https://www.target.com/circle/community-voting in your browser.

2. Tap “Cast votes.”

3. Find Families Forward & vote!

Voting is open through December 31, 2026.

We love seeing our community show up for one another. ❤️Our Family Day of Service brought together 53 volunteers who hel...
10/15/2026

We love seeing our community show up for one another. ❤️

Our Family Day of Service brought together 53 volunteers who helped pack, organize, and distribute items for pantry guests and families staying at our shelter.

The day was full of teamwork, generosity, and a lot of care for our neighbors.

And we have to give a special shoutout to The Outside Scoop in Ankeny for donating ice cream for our volunteers. 🍦 It was such a fun way to wrap up a meaningful day.

Thank you to everyone who helped make it special!

What a day of service! 💙In honor of the 9/11 Day of Service, 53 amazing volunteers came together for our Family Day of S...
10/09/2026

What a day of service! 💙

In honor of the 9/11 Day of Service, 53 amazing volunteers came together for our Family Day of Service to support individuals and families in our community.

Together, they assembled:
- More than 300 breakfast packs
- More than 300 after-school snack packs
- 400 hygiene packs

Volunteers also added handwritten notes and cards to the packs, sharing a little extra kindness and encouragement with each one.

After everything was assembled, volunteers helped distribute the items to guests at our pantry and families staying at our shelter.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave their time to make the day so meaningful!

WOW. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for Principal Financial Group/Foundation. They recently filled our truck with don...
10/07/2026

WOW.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for Principal Financial Group/Foundation. They recently filled our truck with donations including
1600 no-sew t-shirt bags
400 birthday cake kits
500 art craft bags

Thank you for your generosity and for showing up for our families!

09/30/2026

Counting down the days!🗓️

In just a few weeks, we’ll gather at The Loft DSM for Celebrating Families Moving Forward on Friday, November 6, at 6:00 p.m.

Don't miss out on an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and community impact.

👉 Secure your spot or support from afar: https://givebutter.com/c/support-housing-for-local-families-qd4zse

Join our community event to help neighbors reach self-sufficiency.

A kind word. A warm coat. A full pantry.Sometimes, the simplest support makes the biggest difference. 💙
09/30/2026

A kind word. A warm coat. A full pantry.

Sometimes, the simplest support makes the biggest difference. 💙

09/25/2026

Want to make a difference? Here’s how!

Whether you give your time, your resources, or your energy—every action matters at Families Forward.

You can:
💵 Donate
📦 Organize a supply drive
👐 Volunteer
📱 Or simply scan to support!

Together, we can move every person, every family, every story… forward.

Address

3001 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50312

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