When we were founded in 1970 in Cedar Rapids, almost everyone involved was a volunteer. For many years, the phone line was answered entirely by volunteers.

Over the decades, we have shifted to a paid employee model to ensure we can provide high quality services around the clock. With that change, our volunteer needs have moved away from providing crisis services and toward supporting our teams in other ways. We remain deeply grateful for the hundreds of caring people were instrumental in building the foundation of our agency since 1970.

Volunteer FAQs

 

Who can volunteer?

We welcome anyone who supports our mission to apply to volunteer. Volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while volunteering.

Can groups volunteer?

We can generally host groups up to 30 people throughout the year. Large group opportunities may be limited. For specific volunteer needs, contact Katie Curtis at kcurtis@foundation2.org.

Why don’t volunteers provide crisis services?

Our crisis counselors go through rigorous training to ensure they’re prepared for the difficult conversations they’ll encounter. Providing that level of training on a volunteer basis does not ensure we can provide a high level of care 24/7. Instead, we utilize volunteer efforts to support these crisis services, benefiting both our clients and staff.

I need community service hours. Do you accommodate those?

We have multiple opportunities that can help volunteers complete community service hours for school, a community organization, etc. These arrangements can be set up on a case-by-case basis. For specific volunteer needs, contact Katie Curtis at kcurtis@foundation2.org.