Projects

Drake Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter

Animal Rescue League (ARL) Mane Event
Volunteer for ARL's premier horse event celebrating adoptable barn pets, telling their stories, and showcasing their barn that gives animals a second chance.

Thursday, October 16, 4:45 - 8 p.m. (two shifts)

ARL's Kruidenier Second Chance Ranch 3296 NE 54th Ave Des Moines, IA 50317

Volunteers needed! Register here: https://forms.gle/vyCHUN6rW93hNVm46

Contact Anthony J. Zarzycki for more information, anthony.zarzycki@drake.edu.

Multi-Purpose Room Makeover

Drake Law Women in partnership with Timmer, Judkins & Borland

Thursday, October 16 and Friday, October 17

The Beacon, 1717 Woodland Ave, Des Moines

The Beacon is a community that provides housing and programming to women in central Iowa who have experienced significant trauma with a mission of empowering women to achieve positive long-term change. Over two days, members of DLW hope to transform a multi-purpose room at The Beacon into a relaxing space with functional organization for movies, games, books, children’s toys, and more. A corner of the space serving as a mini boutique will also receive a makeover to better serve the women at The Beacon.

Organizing 2 shifts (morning and afternoon) for both days. The goal is to have 6 volunteers at each of the 4 shifts.

Contact Molli Bauer to get more information on volunteering at molli.bauer@drake.edu

Des Moines Community Baby Shower presented by UnityPoint Health, Sponsored by Healthy Birth Day
Friday, October 17 3:30 - 7:30 PM 
EMC Expo Center, Junior Ballroom

Des Moines Community Baby Shower - Healthy Birth Day is thrilled to be hosting our inaugural Des Moines Community Baby Shower presented by UnityPoint Health. At our shower we are anticipating 350-500 expecting parents and their guests to join us from 4-7pm, where they can have a fun time and learn about important tools and resources like Count the Kicks. Volunteers are needed for the event to help with set up, greeting and checking in guests, at the diaper giveaway station, and tear down.

30 to 40 volunteers are needed. Please contact Reilly Cady at cady.reilly@healthybirthday.org or 515-408-3509.

Healthy Mom & Baby Diaper Drive - sponsored by Youth Law Society

Sponsored by Office of Professional Regulation

Food and Fund Drive for DMARC
Month of October
Food and Fund Drive for DMARC - DMARC fights food insecurity through a network of 14 food pantries, multiple mobile food pantry locations, and a home delivery service.

Judicial Branch Building lobby, 1111 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines or donate via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/officeofprofessionalregulationdrive

To volunteer, please contact Jessica Taylor at jessica.taylor@iowacourts.gov or 515-348-4670

Sponsored by Dickinson Bradshaw
Friday, Oct. 17, Three sessions - 9 a.m., Noon, or 4 p.m.
Drake Law School, Cartwright Hall, Room 201

Dickinson Bradshaw and Drake Law School will present a clinic on advanced directives and simple wills as part of the Cady Day of Service. 

Volunteer opportunities available for attorneys and law students. Please complete this form if you are interested in volunteering: https://forms.gle/SR2MTH6arqQH5V7s8

Cady Day of Service Expungement and Employer Barriers Clinic hosted by Nationwide Insurance in collaboration with Iowa Legal Aid and Drake Legal Clinic. *Need minimum of 5 attorneys

Here, we pair Nationwide volunteer attorneys* with ILA and Drake Legal Clinic clients that need advice and assistance on getting the record expungement process started. In addition to expungement, we train volunteer attorneys to advise on issues related to driver’s license reinstatement, background checks, and court debt management. This training will occur on October 16 at 9am at the Drake Legal Clinic and will count for 1 hour of diversity CLE credit. A zoom training may be optional upon request. During the clinic, meetings with clients typically last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Drake Legal Clinic law students will represent clients in expungement hearings the day of the clinic. Following the clinic, ILA and Drake Legal Clinic will handle all follow up, case management, and representation. We just need help day-of! It’s a great volunteer opportunity that requires low commitment. *We may need additional attorneys if we cannot find at least 5 Nationwide attorneys.

Date: October 17, 2025

Location: Drake Legal Clinic, 2400 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

Time frame: 3:00 - 7:00 PM

Who should people contact to get more information or to volunteer?
   Name   Arianna Eddy
   Email address   aeddy@iowalaw.org
   Phone number   (319) 409-9204

Sponsored by Whitfield & Eddy Law
Birdland Marina, Des Moines
Friday, Oct. 17
9 a.m. - noon

*ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME**

Whitfield & Eddy attorneys, staff, and other volunteers will clean up litter at Birdland Marina and area trails. 

Contact Marc Hollander at hollander@whitfieldlaw.com or 515-288-6041 for more information or to volunteer.

_{Photo from 2023 clean-up event}

Sponsored by Drake Law School Journal of Ag Law and DAELA

In honor of Cady Day of Service, the Journal of Agricultural Law and DAELA are teaming up to volunteer with a park restoration project. 

Click here to Register  Password: Cady

Date: Friday, October 17th

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: MacRae Park - 1021 Davis Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315

Bracelets & Keychains for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa

Wednesday October 15 - Friday October 17.

Materials will be available to create bracelets and keychains in Kern Commons. We will also be decorating coffee sleeves to donate to the community as well. 

Questions? Contact Samantha Ruhland or Quinn Daniel.

Sponsored by Drake Law Review
Monday, Oct. 13 - Friday, Oct. 17
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Drake Law Review Suite

Each year, the Drake Law Review hosts a food drive to collect food for a local food bank. A donation box will be set up in Drake Law Review Suite Monday, Oct. 13 through Friday, Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day.

Questions? Contact Dan Fournier

Friday October 17th, 2025

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Virtual. In person attendance option at 801 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA.

Registration link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JPPXDWK

“Dorsey is hosting a virtual clinic for approximately 20 eligible Iowans to petition an Iowa District Court to legally change their names—first name, middle name, last name, or any combination of their names. Dorsey volunteers will help clients complete a “Petition for Change of Name” form so that they may file the Petition in the county of the Iowa District Court in which they reside to obtain a Decree officially changing their legal name.
For questions, please email clinic@dorsey.com

Sponsored by Hope Wood JD
Friday, Oct. 24 - Noon - Zoom

Get all of your questions answered about appointing a power of attorney.

The live lunchtime webinar will be hosted on Zoom .

Open to all participants.

Approved for 1 hour of Iowa Continuing Legal Education.

Registration link: - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1661198953789?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sponsored by Kimberly Stamatelos, The Compassionate Lawyer, LLC

Join Kimberly Stamatelos, a professional mediator (and attorney) for over 40 years to learn the top skills and tools she has used in her career working in literally thousands of conflicts. Whether it is family, neighborhood, workplace or legal dispute where you intend to help, spend an hour learning what you can bring to your “mission” to create or hold peace for parties who are suffering in conflict.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

Noon (1-hour seminar)

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keeping-the-peace

Hopkins & Huebner, P.C. - Food Drive

Food drive to with intent to fill branches of Des Moines Public Libraries and/or Little Free Pantries around the Drake neighborhood

October 13 - 17, 2025 

Contact Mary Torpy for more information.

Sponsored by Office of Professional Regulation

Meals from the Heartland

Friday, October 17, 2025 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

OPR staff will be packaging meals at Meals from the Heartland.

PCBA VLP Family Law Clinic Fredrikson & Byron will host and staff the Family Law Clinic at the Polk County Courthouse

October 17th, 2025 1:00-4:30 p.m.

No additional volunteers needed.

Sponsored by Nyemaster Goode PC
October 17th, 2025

Nyemaster is creating care packages for Individuals experiencing homelessness.

Bradley & Riley PC
Friday, Oct. 17th
1-3:30 p.m.

Bradley & Riley Attorneys and staff from our offices are volunteering to make meals for family staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City.

Sponsored by Whitfield & Eddy Law
Iowa Center for Children's Justice friendship bracelets and keychains
Friday, Oct. 17
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC is preparing care packages and providing dinner to the residents of Hope Lodge - Russell and Ann Gerdin American Cancer Society located in Iowa City

Thursday October 16th
5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

The Russell and Ann Gerdin American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Iowa City provides 28 rooms for cancer patients and their caregivers, offering free, non-medical lodging, and convenient access to the UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fostering a home-like environment, the Hope Lodge is equipped with a community dining room, kitchen, family room, library, exercise area and laundry facilities. The Lodge also offers guests a wide variety of cancer programs and services free of charge that provide information, resources, and support to ease the cancer journey.

https://facilities.uiowa.edu/named-building/hope-lodge

Student Legal Services - University of Iowa Students

U.S. and Iowa Law Refresher Workshop

Thursday, October 16th, 2025 at 4:30 PM via Zoom. 

Contact Amanda Elkins at amanda-elkins@uiowa.edu for more information.

Sponsored by Nyemaster Goode, P.C.

October 17th, 2025

Volunteer Project with Houses Into Homes in Partnership with Hills Bank in Cedar Rapids.

Bradley & Riley PC
Friday, Oct. 17th
1-3:30 p.m.

Bradley & Riley Attorneys and staff will be assembling motivational Gems of Hope cards via a program of the Nassif Cancer Center. The cards will then be distributed to Cancer patients in Eastern Iowa to motivate and encourage them during their treatment.

Sponsored by University of Iowa College of Law

Blood Drive

Friday, Oct. 17

Boyd Law Building

Contact Brian Farrell for more information.

Sponsored by University of Iowa College of Law

Pro Bono Recognition Event

Wednesday, Oct. 22

Boyd Law Building

Contact Brian Farrell for more information.

Marshall County Bar Association - Leslyee's Library Fundraiser
Friday, October 17, 2025 (This will occur over the week before the 17th but culminate with a book drop on that date.)

Leslyee's Library Fundraiser - this project involves collecting children's books for a library started by a clerk of court employee, Leslyee George, who wanted children to have a book to keep while they had to wait at the courthouse during what likely was a traumatic time for them. Ms George has passed but her son , Ryne George is working to keep this library alive and expanded into Linn County for children at the courthouse there. This drive is to supply the Marshall County library.

Iowa Department of Corrections, General Counsel Division

The DOC's General Counsel Division, including the agency's six Administrative Law Judges, invites you to join us in service by supporting your local food pantry to assist the community's needs as we approach the holiday season.

Now through Oct. 31, 2025

Contact Shannon Archer at shannon.archer@iowa.gov for more information.