Category Archive Community Engagement

BySuzanne Hull

Des Moines Refugee Support | #CDM2023 Nonprofit Partner

Christkindlmarket Des Moines is pleased to partner with Des Moines Refugee Support as a Nonprofit Partner this year.

Des Moines Refugee Support and their team of volunteers will be managing a point of sale at the Glühwein Tent on Saturday and Sunday. All cash tips placed in their tip jar at their point of sale will go directly to their organization. The Iowa European Cultural Connection, the nonprofit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines, will also make a $500 donation as part of our partnership.

The mission of Des Moines Refugee Support is to identify and bridge gaps for refugee families, in particular refugee children, as they establish their new lives in America.

There are currently 26.6 million refugees in the World. 6.6 million of them live in refugee camps, which are meant to be temporary, but many people end up staying for decades. Less than 3% of refugees will return to their home country, and just over 2% of refugees will be officially resettled in a different country. Being chosen for resettlement is kind of like winning the lottery! Des Moines Refugee Support works to fill in the gaps for refugees who are chosen to make their new homes in the Des Moines metro!

BySuzanne Hull

Host Your Holiday Party in Yuletide Hall at Christkindlmarket Des Moines

‘Tis the season for celebrating! Your reserved table in Yuletide Hall (heated entertainment tent) comes with drink tickets and souvenirs.

Reserve an 8-person table in Yuletide Hall at Christkindlmarket Des Moines on Thursday, November 30 OR Sunday, December 3, 2023 and get into the holiday spirit as you enjoy performances by the Jim Kucera Band on Thursday and Metro Brass Quintet/Greater Des Moines Adult Flute Choir on Sunday. Perfect for families, social club outings, corporate holiday parties, volunteer appreciation outings, social hours, etc.

Each ticket comes with the following:

  1. A reserved 8-person table in Yuletide Hall, our heated entertainment tent at Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM)
  2. 2 drink tickets PER PERSON that can be used for Glühwein (warm mulled wine), Kinderpunsch (warm mulled cider), craft beer, European beer, or water
  3. A 2023 commemorative Glühwein mug OR 2023 commemorative .5L acrylic stein PER PERSON
  4. A 2023 commemorative pin OR 2023 commemorative ornament PER PERSON

Choose from the following seatings on Thursday, November 30, 2023:

  • 5pm – 7pm
  • 7pm – 9pm

Choose from the following seating on Sunday, December 3, 2023:

  • 11am – 1pm
  • 1pm – 3pm
  • 3pm – 5pm

Early bird pricing per table now through October 1, 2023: $225

Pricing per table after October 1, 2023: $250

Your purchase will support the Iowa European Cultural Connection, the 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines.

BySuzanne Hull

Christkindlmarket Des Moines Nonprofit Partnership Program (NPP)

Are you looking for a fundraiser for your non-profit? Join us as one of our nonprofit partners at Christkindlmarket Des Moines this year!

Partnership Opportunities

Beverages (4 Points of Sale Available): Sell Glühwein and Kinderpunsch


PRE‐FESTIVAL

  1. Create all volunteer schedules and shifts including at least fifteen (15) minutes before the shift begins. Shifts can be as long or as short as you like.
  2. Fully staff all hours selected with 4 individuals.
  3. Provide overall main contact and all shift leaders cell numbers to CDM Leadership.

DURING FESTIVAL

  1. Sell product. Nonprofit may sell only products provided by the Festival.
  2. General clean-up of space, unboxing product, preparing product to be sold.
  3. Removal of trash and debris to appropriate areas.
  4. Cash management and the taking of electronic payments via POS system (provided).

CDM Management will:

  1. Set up tables and Point of Sale.
  2. Manage stock levels.
  3. Organize product for the next day.
  4. Manage cash and provide change.

 THE PARTNERSHIP

Nonprofit partners can choose the following partnership levels and receive the associated donation from the Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC), the non-profit that produce CDM:

Thursday, December 5 and Friday, December 6, 2024 | $500 donation
Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, 2024 | $500 donation
Thursday, December 5 – Sunday, December 8, 2024 | $1000 donation

Nonprofit partners will be provided with:

  • A hyperlinked listing on our website as a nonprofit partner with the date, times and location of your volunteering
  • Social media promotion of our partnership
  • Individual blog post announcing/publicizing our partnership

While volunteering the nonprofit may place their tip jar next to the CDM tip jar for cash tips/donations. The nonprofit’s tip jar must be clearly labeled with the name of their nonprofit. 100% of the cash tips in the nonprofit’s tip jar revert back to the nonprofit. Talking about your nonprofit is acceptable; the solicitation of tips is not. The use of a digital/cashless tip jar is acceptable.

Anyone handling alcohol will need to complete online I-PACT (Iowa – Program for Alcohol Compliance) Training. After successfully passing the final test, you will receive a printable certificate of completion. The test takes 45 – 60 minutes to complete and can be completed online at https://abd.iowa.gov/education/i-pact.

Please direct questions and interest in our nonprofit partnership program to Suzanne Hull, [email protected] or 515-250-6366

BySuzanne Hull

Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling and Open House

Be one of the first to view Christkindlmarket Des Moines’ 2022 Glühwein mug design at Jasper Winery on Monday, June 13 from 5 – 7pm. The mug design will be revealed at 6pm.

Shop a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2022 vendors. Jasper wines and Madhouse beer will be available for purchase.

A limited quantity of commemorative mugs are ordered each year, the first 25 attendees to donate $25 (or more) to guarantee their 2022 mug will receive a goody bag. Learn more about Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC), the non-profit that produces Christkindlmarket Des Moines. Find out about what we do and how to get involved.

Admission is free; donations accepted.

Confirmed vendors include Quilted Gardens and Nursery, Indianola Glass Creations and DamonLayne Woodworking

BySuzanne Hull

Join Iowa European Cultural Connection Today!

Silver – $100 (annual membership)

2 guaranteed CDM 2022 mugs – $50 value

Limited edition CDM commemorative 2022 pin

Free CDM reusable bag – $5 value

5% off purchase of two tickets to one IECC Event or one language school class per membership year

Recognition on our website as a “Silver” member

Gold – $250 (annual membership)
Silver Rewards plus:

2 guaranteed CDM 2022 mugs (four total, 2 at Silver level and 2 at Gold level)

Membership bracelet for CDM 2022 that secures the following benefits: Access to “express lane” at Gluehwein Sales and the Bratwurst Imbiss am Markt (Must show Member Bracelet to utilize this perk) and 5% off purchases at An der Weihnachtsecke (Must show Member Bracelet to utilize this perk)

10% off purchase of two tickets to one IECC Event or one language school class per calendar (5% in addition to Silver, not 10% on top of Silver member)

Recognition as “Gold” level member at CDM: Must be a member by November 1, 2022 to be included on the printed signage

Specifics:

  • Membership is good during the calendar year in which it is purchased.
  • Membership purchases will close on November 1.
BySuzanne Hull

Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Sons of Norway Marsteinen Lodge

The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.

Decorating for their fourth year, SoN will treat us to a “Red, White, and Blue” tree representing the countries of Norway, United Sates, and Canada, where lodges are located. The decorations are mostly handmade and will include natural materials, wooden ornaments, Rosemaled ornaments, garden materials and treated paper ornaments.

Sons of Norway has been in existence for 126 years and the Marsteinen Lodge, located in Des Moines, has been around for 37 of those. They are dedicated to keeping the Norwegian culture alive and membership consists of those with Norwegian ancestry and anyone who has an interest in the culture. Christmas is the highlight of Norwegian winters. Before December 25th many towns have a Christmas market, special parties and concerts. These activities unify the communities and families with a strong tradition of special foods, music, dances, decorations, even the animals are included. The Marsteinen Lodge usually has a potluck dinner at the December meeting followed by singing and dancing around the Christmas tree. The children attending are treated to a visit from the Nisse bringing small gifts.

Silent Auction funds will be used to aid other nonprofit organizations in the community.

If you would like to bid on the “Red, White, and Blue” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.

For more information Sons of Norway, Martsteinen Lodge, please visit their website.

BySuzanne Hull

Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Serving Hands, Inc.

The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.

Decorating for their first time, Serving Hands, Inc. would like to encourage everyone to open your hearts to the world with “Loving Kindness.” Ornaments with inspirational messages remind everyone how important it is to show loving kindness in a divisive world. The tree ornaments symbolize nature with pine cones and wooden ornaments reflect the serenity that nature provides.

Since its inception in December 2018, Serving Hands, Inc. has provided 1077 meals, donated 837 hygiene items, and provided financial assistance to individuals, families, and organizations in need. As a volunteer led nonprofit, people from all walks of life serve others by providing food, personal hygiene, and financial assistance to those in need.

The holidays mean hope, love, kindness, and giving. Serving Hands, Inc hopes to impact and enrich people’s lives during this season and beyond by using the funds from the Silent Auction to further their work in the community.

If you would like to bid on the “Loving Kindness” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.

For more information the Serving Hands, Inc., please visit their website.

BySuzanne Hull

Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Iowa Genealogical Society

The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.

Returning for a second year, Iowa Genealogical Society wants to celebrate an anniversary with CDM! “Blast from the Past” will be a 1950’s theme marking 2022 as the 72nd anniversary of the 1950 US Federal Census. This is an important occasion to genealogists because it means the population tables from the 1950 census will be released for use by genealogists and the general public.

The Iowa Genealogical Society was founded in 1965 with a mission to foster an interest in genealogy and aid others in researching their family history. The holidays are important and facilitate many occasions for families to gather and share their roots.

If you would like to bid on the “Blast from the Past” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.

For more information the Iowa Genealogical Society, please visit their website.

BySuzanne Hull

Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Danish Sisterhood

The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.

The Danish Sisterhood in America Lodge 102 has returned for their second turn at decorating a tree, and it won’t disappoint! “Handmade Heritage” will evoke a feeling of Denmark when you gaze upon this tree filled with Danish woven baskets, cones, and sneaky little Nisse who like to hide in peoples’ homes and cause mischief. Through a lot of skill, the members of the Danish Sisterhood have also created a showstopping star to top off the tree.

The Danish Sisterhood national organization was started in Michigan in 1883. Many Danish people were immigrating to America and found themselves in need of help. The Sisterhood was built as a support to those Danes that needed a helping hand both financially and emotionally. Lodge 102 was a “rebirth” of a lodge that disbanded then restarted in the early 1900’s.

The mission of the Danish Sisterhood is to preserve and strengthen the Danish culture in the community. In addition, they adhere to the principals of support by helping sisters in need.

The money raised in the Silent Auction will be used in service to other organizations including the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa. The museum is archiving and cataloging artifacts reaching back the late 1800’s from Danish Sisterhoods across the United States. The Sisterhood also supports The Ronald McDonald House, Dorothy’s House, and the Food Bank of Iowa.

If you would like to bid on the “Homemade Heritage” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.

For more information the The Danish Sisterhood of America, please visit their website.

BySuzanne Hull

Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church

The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.

Making their first appearance in the Silent Auction is Bright Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church. With a nod to a Christmas classic, “Silver and Gold” will give you all the feels as you take in the love and excitement used to create these ornaments crafted by the two, three, four and five-year-olds currently attending the preschool.

Bright Beginnings Preschool was opened in 1964 by a church member that saw a need for early childhood education in the Ankeny community. The preschool programs provide opportunities for a child to realize his or her own potential as a two, three, four or five-year-old person. Each program is specifically structured for the developmental age level of the child enrolled. Cooperative planning ensures that the programs complement each other.

Since play is the foundation of child development, the preschool plans for and recognize its value. The Silent Auction funds will go to replace and supplement many of the manipulatives and classroom tools/furniture. Working with young children means things get loved all day, every day and need to be replaced.

If you would like to bid on the “Silver and Gold” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.

For more information Bright Beginnings Preschool, please visit their website.