West Des Moines Human Services

10/20/2026

We are so thankful for this annual event hosted by the West Des Moines Police Department! Thank you to everyone who donated and made the event a success again this year!

10/20/2026

Our Director, Audrey Kennis, was pleased to be part of this important conversation, bringing together community voices to better understand what strategies will be most effective in reducing food insecurity across Central Iowa.

Iowans attended a Iowa Food Security Forum in Des Moines to share their experiences and provide input on future food assistance policies

10/17/2026

We’re excited to celebrate the kickoff of the second cohort of students in the Datacenter Academy Program, this year focused on Datacenter Critical Environment Technicians!

Six students selected for the program joined West Des Moines Human Services staff, DMACC faculty, and current Microsoft employees for an engaging orientation that included a panel discussion and a tour of the DMACC facilities where they will train throughout this two semester program.

West Des Moines Human Services is grateful for our continued partnership with Microsoft and DMACC. Together, we’re creating meaningful workforce and upward mobility opportunities that open doors for individuals in our community. Here’s to a great year ahead!

10/16/2026

Reminder: There’s still time to stop by the West Des Moines Police Department for the Pack the Patrol Car event supporting the Personal Care Pantry at West Des Moines Human Services!

Donations will be accepted through 7 PM this evening. Every contribution helps support individuals and families in our community.

A heartfelt thank‑you to our amazing community for showing up, donating, and helping make a meaningful impact. Your generosity truly makes a difference.
A big thank‑you to the Des Moines Police Department their continued partnership and generosity. 💙🚓

10/16/2026

Join West Des Moines Police Department today as they pack a patrol car with personal care items to support those visiting our Food Pantry!

10/15/2026

Join us this month as we collect winter apparel to help local individuals and families stay warm. Donations of coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, snow pants, and other winter essentials make a real difference.

📍 Drop off donations:
West Des Moines Human Services
139 6th Street

Please ring the doorbell at the southeast donation entrance. A staff member or volunteer will assist you and provide a donation receipt.

🕒 Donation Hours:
• Mon–Thu: 8:30 AM–3 PM
• Fri: 8:30 AM–12 PM
• Tue Evenings: 4:30–6 PM

Thank you for helping our neighbors stay warm this winter!🛒 Prefer to shop online? See the link to our Amazon Wishlist in the first comment.

10/14/2026

We’re proud to share that our Director, Audrey Kennis, will serve on the expert panel at the Iowa Food Security Forum on Saturday, October 17.

The Iowa Food Security Forum is a large, one‑day event designed to inform food- and nutrition‑related policy in Iowa by elevating the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of food‑insecure Iowans. Audrey will join fellow community experts for a discussion on food security and the challenges impacting individuals and families across the state.

At West Des Moines Human Services, we see every day how vital access to nutritious food is, and how powerful community partnerships can be in addressing food insecurity. We’re grateful for opportunities like this to share our perspective and be part of the conversation.

10/09/2026

West Des Moines Human Services is hosting our Thanksgiving Food Drive now through Wednesday, November 25th! Your donations of holiday staples like stuffing, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce and gravy help ensure local families can enjoy a special holiday meal together.

📍 Donations may be delivered to our office:
West Des Moines Human Services
139 6th Street

Please ring the doorbell at the donation doors on the southeast corner of the building. A volunteer or staff member will assist you and provide a donation receipt.

🕒 Hours:
Mon–Thu: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Fri: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Tue Evenings: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

See the link in the first comment to register to host a Thanksgiving Food Drive with your neighborhood, business or organization.

10/08/2026

🎄 Holiday Assistance Registration opens online on OCTOBER 12! 🎁

The holiday season is just around the corner, and we’re excited to offer holiday assistance to income-eligible West Des Moines residents through our holiday programs.

✨ HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

🎁 Giftland
Holiday gifts for children ages 18 and under.

🥫 Holiday Food Assistance
December holiday food vouchers will be available to registered, income-eligible households.

📅 REGISTRATION SCHEDULE

💻 Online registration:
October 12–November 6

🏢 In-person registration
October 26–November 13
available Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–12 PM

Learn more at the link in the first comment.

10/04/2026

KNOW THE WORK. SHARE THE CARE. 💚

You may know our name. But do you know all that happens inside West Des Moines Human Services?

Our community survey showed that some West Des Moines residents aren’t familiar with the programs, services and resources available through our department, or the many ways our community helps make that work possible.
We need your help spreading the word.

Take a few minutes to watch our new video and get to know West Des Moines Human Services, who we serve, what we do and how we help individuals and families in our community.
Then, please share the video with someone who may not know about us.

It doesn't cost anything to share. But it could help someone:
💚 Find a service they need
💚 Learn how to access support
💚 Discover a way to volunteer
💚 Find an opportunity to donate
💚 Better understand how our community cares for its neighbors

The more people who know about WDM Human Services, the more people we can reach.

👉 Watch. Share. Help us spread the word.
Know the work. Share the care.

And stay tuned… something transformative is on the horizon.