2026 Day of Caring Volunteer Projects

Make a Difference in North Iowa!

Join United Way of North Central Iowa's Day of Caring and spend a few hours making a difference for organizations that serve our neighbors every day.

Choose the project that works best for you or your team, roll up your sleeves, and help make North Iowa stronger!

Crisis Intervention Service

Painting, Yard Work & Deep Cleaning

📍 Mason City
🕐 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
👥 6 volunteers

Help Crisis Intervention Service freshen up its space inside and out!

Volunteers will paint garage trim, exterior office doors and porch railing; pull weeds and clean up the yard; and tackle deep cleaning in bathrooms and the third-floor kitchen and living area.

Good fit for: Volunteers who don't mind getting their hands dirty! Some painting requires working on a ladder, so at least one volunteer should be comfortable with heights.

The House IA

Painting, Organizing & Donation Support

📍 Mason City
🕐 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
👥 5 volunteers

Give The House IA some extra helping hands! Projects may include painting shelving and the food pantry, sorting and pricing donations, folding brochures, and organizing storage areas.

The organization has supplies ready—they just need the manpower!

Good fit for: A team that enjoys a variety of hands-on projects.

Charlie Brown Preschool & Child Care

Preschool Spruce-Up

📍 Mason City
🕐 Morning project

Help create a clean and welcoming environment for local children!

Volunteers will tackle yard cleanup, sand and paint three wooden carts used to hold nap cots, and help clean and organize the boiler room by removing old boxes and unused items.

Good fit for: Volunteers who enjoy organizing, painting and light outdoor work.

Elderbridge Agency on Aging

Outdoor Cleanup & Office Organization

📍 Mason City
🕐 Flexible daytime hours
👥 4 volunteers

Help Elderbridge Agency on Aging check a few important projects off its list!

Volunteers will pull weeds from sidewalks and the parking lot and help bring boxes from the basement upstairs for shredding.

Good fit for: Volunteers comfortable with bending, lifting and carrying boxes.

43 North Iowa

Becker Center Beautification Project

📍 Becker Center – Mason City
🕐 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Help give the Becker Center a fresh look!

Volunteers will paint the front office area and hallway and head outdoors to pull weeds, trim trees and complete other general yard work.

Good fit for: A team ready for a mix of indoor and outdoor projects. No special skills are required.

Friends of the Family

Program Packet Assembly

📍 Mason City
🕐 9:00–11:00 a.m.

Looking for a project that's indoors and doesn't require heavy lifting?

Friends of the Family needs volunteers to help assemble newly reorganized program paperwork. Volunteers will organize, staple, assemble and finalize packets used by the organization.

Good fit for: Small teams looking for a seated, indoor volunteer opportunity.

North Iowa Community Action Organization

Clear Lake Early Childhood Center Beautification

📍 Clear Lake
🕐 1:00–4:00 p.m.
👥 2–3+ volunteers

Help create a welcoming outdoor space for children and families at NICAO's Clear Lake Early Childhood Center!

Volunteers will help remove weeds from landscaping rocks and plant shrubs around the center.

Good fit for: Individuals or teams who enjoy working outdoors. No special skills are required—just a willingness to lend a hand!

What to bring: Work gloves and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

North Iowa Community Action Organization

Mason City Early Childhood Center Beautification

📍 Mason City
🕐 1:00–4:00 p.m.
👥 2–3+ volunteers

Help NICAO spruce up its Mason City Early Childhood Center and make the outdoor space even more welcoming for local children and families.

Volunteers will plant shrubs and may also help remove a grass area and replace it with mulch, depending on the needs of the center.

Good fit for: A team that enjoys hands-on outdoor projects. Basic landscaping experience is helpful but not required.

What to bring: Work gloves and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

North Iowa Community Action Organization

Manly Early Childhood Center Beautification

📍 Manly
🕐 1:00–4:00 p.m.
👥 2–3+ volunteers

Give NICAO's Manly Early Childhood Center a little extra TLC during Day of Caring!

Volunteers will pull weeds, trim branches around the center's sign, and clean up weeds along the playground fence.

Your work will help make the center's outdoor spaces cleaner and more welcoming for the children and families who use them every day.

Good fit for: Volunteers who enjoy yard work and outdoor projects.

What to bring: Work gloves and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

Meals on Wheels of Mason City

Deliver Meals & Brighten Someone's Day

📍 Mason City
🕐 Approximately 10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
👥 1–3 volunteers per route | Up to 5 routes available

Spend about an hour making a big difference!

Volunteers will pick up prepared meals at MercyOne and deliver them to homebound individuals throughout Mason City.

Each route takes approximately 40 minutes to one hour. Individuals can deliver a route alone, but teams of two or three work especially well—one person drives while others deliver meals to each home.

Good fit for: Individuals or small teams looking for a meaningful project with a short time commitment.

Please note: Each team will need a licensed driver and a vehicle.

Community Kitchen of North Iowa

Free Meal Program – Lunch Crew

📍 Mason City
🕐 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
👥 4–8 volunteers

Help Community Kitchen serve a warm meal to our neighbors!

Volunteers will assist with simple food preparation, package desserts, prepare carryout meals, serve dine-in guests and help with light cleanup after lunch.

No cooking experience is necessary—just bring your willingness to help!

Good fit for: Volunteers who enjoy working together, helping with food and interacting with the community.

Community Kitchen of North Iowa

Landscaping & Outdoor Cleanup

📍 Mason City
🕐 8:00–11:00 a.m. OR 1:00–4:00 p.m.
👥 4–8 volunteers

Help give Community Kitchen's outdoor space some much-needed TLC!

Volunteers will trim shrubs and overgrowth, prune low branches, pull weeds, clean up landscaping and spread mulch if needed around the building, parking lot and overflow parking area.

Volunteers are welcome to bring trimming or pruning tools, but Community Kitchen can also provide tools.

Good fit for: A team that enjoys outdoor work. Having at least one person with basic landscaping experience would be helpful.

Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services

Playground Transformation Project

📍 80 North Eisenhower Avenue, Mason City
🕐 Start times available: 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 12:00 p.m.
👥 6–8 volunteers (flexible based on team size)

Help transform an outdoor play space for children and youth served by Four Oaks!

Volunteers will shovel and remove existing pebble rock from the playground and replace it with new playground mulch, improving safety and usability of the space.

This is a hands-on, physical project that involves lifting, hauling, and spreading materials.

Good fit for: A team that enjoys outdoor, physical work and doesn’t mind getting dirty.

What to bring: Four Oaks will provide wheelbarrows and shovels, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. Work gloves are highly recommended, along with comfortable clothes and shoes that can get dirty.

Time note: The project is approximately 24 total volunteer hours, which can be completed in about 3 hours with 8 volunteers or 4 hours with 6 volunteers.

Find Your Project. Gather Your Team. Make a Difference.

Day of Caring is about more than completing a to-do list. It's an opportunity to see the incredible work happening throughout our community, meet the organizations serving our neighbors, and experience what happens when North Iowa comes together.

Whether you can give two hours or a full day, your time matters.

UNITED IS THE WAY.