Originally formed to help natural disaster victims, Valley Disaster Relief now focuses on helping families, individuals, other nonprofits, and churches in the Des Moines metro area with tree service. They are a volunteer group with no paid staff and do not charge for their services. With 20+ chainsaws, a bucket truck, chip truck, chipper, and a mini skid, in 2019 they helped over 240 families and provided over 1,900 hours of volunteer time to individuals and nonprofit organizations with tree trimming and removal services. In the last 6 years they have exceeded 1,000 jobs. They help Habitat for Humanity, local and regional churches, non-profits like Hope Ministries, Camp Sunnyside, Mosaic, summer camps, and individuals on fixed incomes unable to afford tree trimming or removal, and currently partner with the cities of Des Moines, Urbandale, Pleasant Hill, and West Des Moines.  They have also responded to tornado damage throughout Iowa including Lake Panorama, Dallas Center, Correctionville, Mapleton, Marshalltown, Earlham, Garwin, Parkersburg, Thurman, and Ottumwa. Since they do not charge for services, their continued work is entirely funded by donations.

The First Sunday collection will occur as usual, except checks should be mailed by April 5 to:

                                     DMIEC, P.O. Box 30065, Des Moines, IA  50310

Checks may be made out to “Valley Church” with “VDR” in the memo line, or to “DMIEC” with “First Sunday” in the memo line.