Families Forward

Over 100 years of providing compassionate, life-changing assistance to families.

Empowering positive futures: Over 100 years of providing compassionate, life-changing assistance to families on their path to self-sufficiency. As of July 2023, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work togethe

06/22/2026

We are 60% to our $300,000 goal for the Bidwell Pantry expansion!

Demand for help continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, and Bidwell now serves more individuals than any food pantry in Iowa. Our team and volunteers are working tirelessly, but our current space was never designed for this level of need.

That’s why Families Forward is moving forward with a 20' x 40' expansion to the rear of the pantry. This new space will allow deliveries to be unloaded without interrupting service and will add a staff break room and dedicated bathroom.

We plan to break ground later this summer, but we still need your help to reach the finish line.

Your gift will help us serve thousands of neighbors with greater efficiency, dignity, and care.

Donate today and help build the future of Bidwell Pantry: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/brc

Families Forward

06/17/2026

joined several amazing donors and organizations in support of our Bidwell Pantry expansion.

To date we have raised more than half of the $300,000 needed to complete the project. The expansion will enable us to better serve the many, many families we see every day at Bidwell.

We hope to break ground late summer. If you would like to support the expansion of Bidwell Pantry, the highest-serving pantry in the state of Iowa, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/brc and select “Bidwell Expansion” as your designation.

Thank you to Veridian and all those supporting this project!

06/17/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Altar’d State for supporting Families Forward through their Mission Monday event!

Thanks to their generosity, Altar’d State presented Families Forward with a check for more than $4,600 to help us continue serving children and families in our community.
We are so grateful for community partners who believe in our mission and help move families forward.

Thank you, Altar’d State!

06/13/2026

Exciting day for us. Anyone who donates today will have their gift matched!

This is possible because Families Forward is participating in the 2026 Birdies for Charity program through the Principal Charity Classic giving us the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 in guaranteed matching funds!

Principal Charity Classic

06/10/2026

Donate today and have your gift matched!

Families Forward is grateful to be participating in the 2026 Birdies for Charity program through the Principal Charity Classic.

This gives us the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 in guaranteed matching funds!

Principal Charity Classic

06/09/2026

Families Forward is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead our organization into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Every day, Families Forward works to help families in the Des Moines metro access food, childcare, shelter, supportive housing, and pathways toward greater stability and independence.

If you are a strategic thinker, a relationship-builder, and a leader who believes every family deserves safety, stability, and opportunity, we want to talk to you.

The Executive Director will guide organizational strategy, strengthen community and donor relationships, champion our mission, support staff and programs, and help advance the vital work of Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection.

This is an opportunity to lead with purpose and make a lasting difference for children and families in our community.

Learn more and apply:
https://families-forward.prismhr-hire.com/job/1029870/executive-director

Please share this opportunity with leaders in your network who may be a great fit.

06/05/2026

Want to help support Families Forward and have fun at the same time?

Get out to Wakonda Club for the Principal Charity Classic, any day from June 10 - June 14, 2026.

All funds raised at the Principal Charity Classic go to Iowa Children’s Charities, including ours!

Principal Charity Classic