I have lived in Des Moines for almost 30 years and absolutely adore this city. The bike trails, the restaurants, the people – they all consistently amaze me.
Until I took my position at YESS, though, I had little contact with the non-profit community. If there is one thing that has surprised me in my short tenure it's the amount of generosity given by other agencies. I want to take a moment to thank them for all they’ve done to support us. Here is a summary of some of the powerful partnerships that have evolved just in the last month:
Melissa O’Neil and her team at Central Iowa Shelter and Services have partnered with us to provide meals, at no cost, for our kids. They are also providing janitorial services through their job-training program. The circle of empowerment created by their clients serving our clients is great for everyone involved.
Chris Koepplin at Youth Homes of Mid-America was quick to step in when I needed someone to train our staff on our de-escalation model. She and her team are partnering closely with us the next few months to model and work with our staff. The collaboration between our agencies will be so beneficial to our kids.
Liz Cox and her team at Polk County Health Services recently stepped in with funds to improve our facility, and provide training as we mitigate COVID-19.
Sheri McMichael and her team at Variety – A Children’s Charity, alongside Margo and Don Blumenthal have invested funds to help create a more compassionate physical space.
The list goes on and on. . . Thanks to them and all of our partners for making the work we do possible. I am humbled by their willingness to serve.
