The mission of CFUM is to create a community that supports the potential of children, youth, and families through educational success, healthy living, and community engagement. 

Capital City Fruit has been a generous and consistent partner, delivering 30-60 pounds of free produce to CFUM every Tuesday. With the help of Capital City Fruit, families and residents of the River Bend Neighborhood receive much needed healthy and delicious food options.

THANK YOU CAPITAL CITY FRUIT!

OTHER HAPPENINGS AT CFUM EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS

Educational Success at CFUM is always providing engaging, fun and educational activities for our students.

Recently, students had fun designing and folding some piano origami courtesy of City Sounds, a local non-profit with the mission of transforming the Des Moines community culture through music, animating common spaces and making artistic creation accessible to all.

Haven students also paired up and enjoyed using our new Maker Space STEM-cart to create Wiggle Bots. It was amazing to watch how their different perspectives ushered very unique creations into existence!

CFUM hosted the Behind the Beat traveling exhibit from the African American Museum of Iowa. This exhibit explores the development of African American music from its roots in Africa to modern-day hip-hop. The mobile museum, helped from some of our enthusiastic teachers, took students on an engaging journey through time to learn about how African American music originated in Africa and all the ways it has since evolved!

Recently the students spent a week leaving about Home Economics. Activities included crafting, crocheting, and making some healthy and delicious applesauce. Grades 2-5 learned about what can be recycled and participated in a chore relay race to show that daily tasks can be made fun when you do them with creativity!

BREAKFAST CLUB

Breakfast Club has been full of delicious, healthful shared food and experiences in the new year. It is the place where delicious food and engaging activities meets eager, thriving minds and all involved.

Breakfast Club has started a Word of the Week to explore the powers they have within them, such as bravery and resiliency. Recently one student showed bravery in action by summoning the courage to sing twice when others were reluctant. The word of the week program is more than learning a new word and its definition, it is about helping students connect that definition with things they do in everyday life.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are currently seeking motivated bilingual volunteers who would be able to engage with our Spanish-speaking students. 

SUPPER CLUB

CFUM Supper Club continues to serve the community grab-and-go meals Monday thru Friday. We are currently serving 125-150 meals each evening.

CFUM is also a food rescue location that receives weekly donations from Panera, HyVee and Target. Donations are placed outside our location where neighbors are free to take what they need. Breaking down barriers to food is a mission CFUM and we are continually exploring new ways to bring nourishment to the neighborhood.