Volunteer
Want to help change the life of a parent and their very young child? You’re not alone. Join the YPN volunteer team and start to make a difference. YPN and the families we work with everyday need YOU!
Become a YPN volunteer
To be eligible to become a YPN volunteer, an individual must be 16 years or older to volunteer unsupervised or 10-15 years old to volunteer with guardian supervision and complete all necessary paperwork.
Required for eligibility
Complete a background check in accordance to the Code of Iowa
Agree to uphold the confidentiality of our participants
Commit to an established amount of time
Have a genuine interest in YPN and our mission
Fill out the form below if you would like to be contacted about volunteer opportunities with YPN.
You can also view and apply for current volunteer opportunities at: www.volunteermatch.org/search/org358277.jsp
Group Meetings
As we safely return to in-person prenatal and parenting groups, we will need some additional volunteers to assist with meal cleanup and childcare. Join us at Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Hall 3rd Floor) in SW Cedar Rapids on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30pm. Some of the volunteer roles for Group meetings include:
Serve the evening meal
- Provide on-site childcare for children 0-5 years of age
- Facilitate prenatal, moms, dads, or Hispanic group discussions
- Prepare and/or facilitate parent/child activities
Assist with YPN quarterly activity nights or other special events
- Speak on a parenting topic of expertise
We Care Shop
Want to interact with our awesome YPN donors and participants? Some of the volunteer roles in the We Care Shop include:
Accept and sort donations
Help participants shop for items
Assist participants with checkout
Driving & Clerical Opportunities
YPN has a contract with the Iowa Department of Human Services to provide volunteers to perform different tasks for the department. We are currently in search of individuals that can volunteer their time to help with Transportation for supervised visits at Linn County Family Visitation Center using a STATE CAR and may aid with clerical tasks in Linn County DHS office during the visit (filing tasks, shredding, assembly of support packets). If you like to go the extra mile, these are the shifts: Tuesday 9am–1pm Wednesday 1–5pm Thursday 9am–1pm Friday 12–4pm
Compile papers and staple, DHS packets
Driver for supervised visits at Linn County Family Visitation Center
(Must be 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license)
Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank
Support families who engage in healthy behaviors. Parents can participate in YPN programs, Eastern Iowa Health Center prenatal and well-child visits, and HACAP/WIC well-child programs and use their points for diapers & wipes. Some of the volunteer roles in the Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank include:
Sort & bag diapers into packs of 50
(can be done on or off-site)
Assist during diaper bank drive-up distribution hours
(Mondays 1-5pm & Thursdays 2:30-5:30pm)
Assist YPN staff with inventory & other duties to maintain flow
Ready to Read
Do you love to read? Help plant the seeds of the importance of early literacy with both parents and children. Visit Ready to Read for more info. Some of the volunteer roles for Ready to Read include:
Serve the evening meal
Lead a family in either infant, toddler, or preschool literacy skills
Provide on-site childcare as needed for older children
Lunch & Literacy
Summer time reading is fun, and you can be part of improving literacy skills in school-age children. Here is how to do it. Visit Lunch & Literacy for current site locations, dates and times.