Volunteer With Us
United is the Way to Make a Difference
Volunteering isn’t just about giving your time—it’s about building a better community, together. Whether you're a student looking for experience, a family wanting to give back, or a company hoping to serve as a team, we’ll help you find meaningful ways to connect and make an impact right here in Wapello County.
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Head to our Volunteer Center to explore local opportunities, sign up for events, and track your hours—all in one place.
We’ll match you with volunteer roles that align with your interests, skills, and goals—whether that’s with one of our United Way programs or another trusted local nonprofit.
Get involved with:
🌱 Community Food Pantry Garden – grow and harvest fresh produce for local pantries
💸 VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) – help families access free tax support
✏️ Reading Buddies & Pen Pals – support literacy and connection with local youth
💼 Work-based learning at our office – develop real-world skills through filing, scheduling, shredding, scanning, answering phones, and building soft skills
📣 Marketing & Media – help us tell our story through social media, graphic design, or newsletters
Whether you want to serve once or build a long-term commitment, we’ll help you find a role that’s meaningful to you.
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🎓 Students: Earn Silver Cord hours, build job skills, or complete internship requirements
🧒 Families: Volunteer together and model service, empathy, and compassion
👫 Groups & Teams: Plan a service project for your school, workplace, or club
🛠️ Career Builders: Gain hands-on experience to boost your resume or test out a new field
❤️ Everyone: Choose flexible or ongoing roles that align with your passions
🤝 Cause-Driven: Support local efforts in education, food access, housing, health, and more
✅ Court-Ordered? Complete your service in a safe, supportive, judgment-free environment -
Need volunteers? We’re here to help.
We assist local organizations in recruiting, managing, and retaining volunteers to support your mission.
From one-time events to long-term needs, we’ll help spread the word and connect you with people ready to serve.
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No matter your age, background, or experience, there’s a place for you to make a difference.
Because when we volunteer together, we grow together—as individuals, families, and a community.Let’s get started!
Allison Patzner
📧 a.patzner@wapellocouw.org
📞 641-682-1264 ext. 18
Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight: Be a Pen Pal!
✉️ Become a Pen Pal & Make a Difference—One Letter at a Time
Do you remember the joy of getting a letter in the mail? Now imagine bringing that same joy to a local 3rd or 4th grader—while supporting literacy, mentorship, and connection in your community.
United Way of Wapello County is proud to offer this meaningful opportunity through our AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program. And while it’s a perfect fit for volunteers age 55+, this opportunity is open to everyone—including middle school and high school classrooms, college students, work teams, sports teams, faith groups, and community organizations.
Let’s make sure every student knows they matter—one letter at a time.
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Our Pen Pal Program pairs volunteers with 3rd and 4th-grade students at Eisenhower Elementary for a fun, simple exchange of handwritten letters during the school year.
Through just a few letters, you’ll help:
Build literacy and communication skills
Foster intergenerational (or peer-to-peer!) connection
Encourage kindness, curiosity, and encouragement
No teaching experience needed—just a kind heart, a pen, and a few minutes to write.
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Eisenhower Elementary is adding two new 3rd-grade classrooms for the 2025–2026 school year, and we need twice as many volunteers to give every student the one-on-one connection they deserve.
This is an excellent work-based learning project for students or team-building activity for adults. We’ve even seen it used as a fun classroom writing initiative or group service project!
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Because a letter that isn’t a bill is something to celebrate—for both of you!
It’s flexible – write at your own pace throughout the year
It’s rewarding – your words make a difference
It’s fun – many of our Pen Pals say they love receiving their student’s letters just as much as writing them!
At the end of the program, you’ll get a chance to meet your Pen Pal in person and celebrate the connection you’ve built.
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It’s as easy as:
Sign up and fill out a short profile
Get matched with a student
Write and receive letters throughout the school year
Celebrate with an end-of-year meet-up!
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If you're interested in volunteering or want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you:
Doing Good Looks Good on You
