Join us for the third annual Human Foosball League tournament and help the children at YESS find brighter tomorrows!
During this one-of-a-kind event, teams will compete on life-sized foosball courts and enjoy a tailgating atmosphere, live music, and networking opportunities.
Gameplay resembles soccer but, much like their tabletop counterparts, players can only move side-to-side in order to score a goal. Only thirty spots are available in this year's bracket, so register your team today!
When teens are experiencing a crisis situation, they don't always have the chance to visit a college campus or explore their options after high school. The teenage girls living at YESS this summer, however, had a special opportunity to visit two campuses and learn about the opportunities available to them.
"So many of our kids haven't even considered going to college," said Lesli Watters, YESS Residential Manager. "We want to help them imagine what it's like to work toward their degree. Let them know they can do it."
During these visits, the girls learned about everything from academic programs and financial aid to intramural sports and student clubs. They toured residence halls, ate a meal in the dining center, and heard from students currently enrolled in college courses.
YESS Resident Advisors in the dining center during a college visit
"My thoughts of going to college changed now that they said that everyone struggles when they are freshmen," said one of the preteen girls. "It was cool to hear about the groups and clubs that people can join so that they won't be left out or lonely. Going to visit the campus makes me want to study hard and get my grades up just so some colleges would accept me."
So far, the pre-teen and teenage girls living in shelter have visited Drake University and Iowa State University. In the coming months, we hope to visit additional colleges and provide the kids with even more options for their future.
The girls line up for a group photo during their visit to Iowa State University
Making Summer Fun
Summer is in full swing, and Team YESS is working hard to create happy memories for the kids that call our shelter home.
Volunteers play an important role in providing new and fun activities during the summer months. Many groups, including the Des Moines Police Department and the Drake Women's Basketball team, have stopped by the shelter to shoot hoops with the kids. Other groups have volunteered their time to play outdoor games like giant jenga and Frisbee golf.
When the weather gets a bit too warm, the kids have been making crafts and participating in our volunteer-led summer reading program. We even hosted a few ice cream parties thanks to generous community donations.
The warmest days of summer are still ahead of us, and we can only provide these activities with help from friends like YOU! If you would like to make the summer months a little easier for children living in shelter, you can:
(L) Sam, Marissa and Ben - interns in our Hope Hall Counseling department
(R) Blaire, Bri and Alexa - just a few of our Resident Advisor interns this summer
Every member of Team YESS plays an important role in helping kids find brighter futures, and the interns that join our team each semester are no exception. We provide a variety of internship experiences where college-age students can develop skills and get to know the children we keep safe.
Check out our
Employment Page for more details about fall internship opportunities in our Emergency Shelter and Integrated Care Connections program. There might be a place for you on Team YESS!
(515) 282-9377 | 918 SE 11th Street Des Moines, IA 50309 | yessiowa.org
