How can we help?
Our Caring Community is all about how we can be of service to each other. This ministry is shared by our professional staff, lay leaders and teams, and potentially everyone who is part of First Unitarian. Here’s how we break it down:
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- Minister – addresses critical issues
- Caring Ministry – meets short term, immediate needs
- Pastoral Care – provides listening and support over a period of time
You can contact our Caring Ministry Coordinator at caring@ucdsm.org or (515) 423-0847.
Another way that we support each other is through sharing of important milestones, joys and concerns with each other. Please see our Joys & Sorrows page for more information.
Caring Ministry
Pastoral Care
Grief Support Circle
Any who are dealing with the loss of a loved one are invited to attend as many or as few sessions that work for you. If this group doesn’t work for you but you need help working through your grief, please reach out to the Pastoral Care Team.
The Grief Support Circle meets in the Minister’s Office on the 2nd Monday’s of the month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Please email griefgroup@ucdsm.org for more information.
Joys & Sorrows
As a community, we care about your joys and your concerns, the news of significant personal challenges, successes, and milestones that impact your life. We invite you to share those with us in whatever way feels appropriate for you.
You can do that through the form below, or by contacting either our Caring Ministry Coordinator at caring@ucdsm.org or 515-344-4360, or our Pastoral Team Chair at pastoralcareteam@ucdsm.org.
**BE SURE TO HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RESPONSE WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.**
Submit a Joy or Sorrow
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Community Resources
Below, you will find a list of resources in the Des Moines area, and links to their websites for more information.
If you would like your community resource featured, or know of another resource that we should feature, please email the information to communications@ucdsm.org.
Emergency Help: Polk County Social Services
Rent Assistance
Polk County General Assistance: 515-286-2088
- One-time assistance every 12 months
- Must have some kind of “earned income”, cannot be receiving public benefits (Social Security Disability, etc.).
- Can also help with first-month’s rent for a new place
IMPACT: 515-518-4770
- Up to 12 months total of assistance while funds last
Cross Outreach: 515-279-9998
- One-time assistance every 12 months
- Can help with deposit for a new place
Utility Assistance
Polk County General Assistance: 515-286-2088
- See above, also:
- Must have a disconnect notice
IMPACT: 515-518-4770
- Must have a disconnect notice
Cross Outreach: 515-279-9998
- One-time assistance every 12 months
Other Resources
Aging Resources of Central Iowa: 515-255-1310
- Maintain list of senior housing in central Iowa
- Good general referral
Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families: 515-697-7700
- Workforce development – resume & job-search assistance, etc.
Primary Health Care Homeless Outreach: 515-248-1850
- Centralized intake for people seeking shelter
- Some prevention services – they’re a good general referral
https://www.findhelp.org/ – comprehensive search for social services by ZIP Code
Central Iowa Resources for Crisis Assistance: Call 2-1-1 or go to 211.org for help related to:
- paying bills, including housing, utilities, and healthcare expenses
- finding food
- Covid-19
- disaster recovery
- mental health
- substance use
Mental Health
Your Life Iowa Crisis Line: call 855-851-8111 or text 855-895-8398
Your Life Iowa is a crisis line that provides information and referral, counseling, crisis service coordination, and linkages to crisis screening and mental health services including dispatch of the CICS mobile Response Team 24 hours per day.
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (press 1)
Homeless Services: Centralized Intake through Primary Health Care: 515-248-1850
STD Testing & Treatment
Food Security