United in Community
May 4, 2026
Thrift stores are filled with pieces of a community. From shirts celebrating long-past high school football championships, to a grandmother’s hand-stitched quilt, each item tells a story. At the Church Women United Thrift Store in Iowa Falls, these stories extend beyond where an item came from or where it might go.
Since opening in 1957, the store has grown into more than a place to shop. It has become an essential part of the community, connecting neighbors and supporting local organizations. The thrift store’s impact is perhaps best understood through the lifecycle of a donated item: a quilt.
When the quilt arrives at the store, one of the organization’s volunteers carefully sorts and prices it for sale.
“Citizens from Iowa Falls and surrounding communities donate items,” said Barb Dilsaver, volunteer and store manager. “The store provides a place for people to take their unwanted items, knowing they can trust the items will be used wisely to benefit those who need them.”
On a Friday or Saturday, the two days the store is open, one of the approximately 200 shoppers who visit each day may spot the quilt and decide it is exactly what they were looking for. They bring it to the cash register, staffed by volunteers and purchase it.
The proceeds from that sale are directed to the Church Women United of Iowa Falls Thrift Store Fund, held at the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. The Community Foundation provides investment stewardship, administrative support and grantmaking infrastructure, helping ensure the store’s proceeds can be distributed efficiently and continue supporting the community for years to come.
As the fund grows, the Church Women United Thrift Store distributes support to nonprofit organizations serving Iowa Falls and other communities across the county. This process is repeated twice a year, with focus on funding causes that strengthen the community.
One organization that has received support from the Church Women United of Iowa Falls Thrift Store Fund is the Friendship Club, a mental health center where people experiencing brain health challenges, including mental health conditions or developmental disabilities, gather for learning, activities and connection.
“The support helps us cover activities, meals and anything ‘extra’,” said Director Mary Nelson. “The funding we receive makes it possible for us to take individuals on fun outings.”
The partnership has also created opportunities for connection. Individuals at the Friendship Club often flatten used grocery bags for the thrift store to reuse for purchases.
“It’s a really neat activity for them because it gives them a sense of purpose and community involvement,” said Mary. “It also allows us to give back to the thrift store as thanks for what they do for our community.”
The store is powered by volunteers. Community members of all ages lend their time, including students earning Silver Cord service hours. The thrift store runs on the volunteer energy of the community, resulting in over 90 volunteers and over 400 service hours annually.
Like the items on its shelves, the people of Iowa Falls and Hardin County each have their own connection to the thrift store. From donating goods, volunteering their time, shopping for treasures or benefiting from the grants made possible through its fund. Together, they are helping transform everyday items, like a quilt, into lasting community impact.