Volunteering opportunities CODR currently offers and requirements for training

  • Join us for Worship!!

    Worshipping with the men inside of the prison walls is an amazing experience! The guys love knowing that they are valued and not forgotten. We need worship volunteers at both Fort Dodge and Rockwell City prisons. Minsters and musicians are especially welcome! Volunteering inside of the prison requires filling out an Iowa DOC volunteer application form which includes a background check, then completing some short video training courses.

  • Connie's Closet (meeting basic needs at the Fort Dodge men's halfway house)

    Men entering the Fort Dodge Community Corrections Center (men's halfway house) after release have next to nothing, so we supply their closet with basic needs such as: clothing, shoes, coats, washcloths, towels, and hygiene supplies. This level of support requires no special training and is coordinated by a CODR volunteer lead (Connie). *Currently we are in need of towels, washcloths, men's coats, sweatshirts and sweatpants (XL-3X), shirts (XL-5X), belts (all sizes), shoes (tennis shoes, black dress, non-slip and work boots, socks (6-12 size), underwear (L-3X), and plastic hangers. Donations can be dropped off at St. Olaf or Grace Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge Ia.

  • Transportation Assistance

    Men entering the halfway house in Fort Dodge after release often do not have access to transportation, so volunteers provide rides to appointments, job interviews, home visits etc. This level of support happens in partnership with AFES (Athletics for Education and Success - Fort Dodge) and does require some training and a DOC background check.

  • Become a CODR Council Member

    As we're reimagining what this ministry will look like in the future, we could use your support. Our goal is to have our CODR Council reflect the diversity in our community as well as the diversity of the population we serve. We would love to have more churches, community organizations and demographics represented. Give us a call!

  • Reentry Teams

    Men transitioning back into to society face many barriers and can have many needs. Reentry Mentors develop a relationship with their mentee and provide support across a broad spectrum. Reentry candidates are selected through a vigorous application process in concert with DOC staff to ensure that they are good candidates for CODR Reentry Support. Being a Reentry Mentor is a much more involved level of support and requires training by the CODR Reentry Coordinator in partnership with the DOC. Reentry Volunteers are also encouraged to participate in weekly worship services at one of the prison facilities.

Reentry Reintegration

“It’s a ministry, not a program”

What is a Reentry team?

Many people who are incarcerated have “burned their bridges” with family and friends and find they have no place to go, and no one to help them when they have served their sentence and are released. With the support of a caring Christian community they can become reintegrated into society as law-abiding citizens. 

Reentry teams are trained to understand where the returning citizen is coming from and how to assist them in their transition back to society. This assistance may be to provide mentoring, life skills education, transportation assistance, help obtaining an ID, driver license, locate employment, and whatever is needed for the returning citizen to make a new start.

Becoming a Volunteer

Being a Reentry Volunteer is about engaging in true discipleship not pity.

We establish healthy relationships with men, teaching responsibility, accountability and good stewardship. Volunteers need to be patient people who can keep good boundaries and provide honest, loving feedback when needed. That’s what we all need.

Even though we are a Christ centered ministry, we respect the individual’s right to believe what he or she wants about God and will not exclude anyone from Reentry support based on their spiritual beliefs. We will however assess a man’s readiness for the reentry program based on feedback from his treatment counselors, parole officers and other DOC staff. Reentry candidates need to be individuals who accept complete responsibility for what they’ve done and be willing to abide by all program rules.

How can I get involved?

Fill out the information on the contact page 

to begin a conversation with the CODR Ministries Director,

Pastor Kelli Glasgo, regarding the steps to take.

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