Author Archive Suzanne Hull

With 34 shelter beds and 32 units of permanent supportive housing, The Beacon provides safe homes and supportive services for women in Central Iowa. These women are mothers, daughters, and neighbors — working not to be judged by the hardest day of their lives, but to be given a true first chance at rebuilding.

The “26 Days of Christmas” theme highlights our 26 for Her campaign, which reminds us that $26 provides one woman with a full day of shelter, safety, and stability. Our tree will be decorated with handmade ornaments and notes of encouragement.
Each decoration is a reminder that when women are supported, they thrive. In fact, 85% of our graduates do not relapse or return to prison — instead, they move forward with stable housing, income, and renewed hope.

As Nia, one of our graduates, shared: “The Beacon gave me more than a place to live. It gave me a community that believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. That made all the difference.”

When you see The Beacon’s tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines, know that every ornament represents a woman’s story of courage, transformation, and the power of community to create lasting change. Learn more about our work at thebeacondm.org.

Check out The Beacon’s tree of hope at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!

Why did our organization choose to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction?

• Danish Brotherhood loves sharing our traditions especially at Christmas as in Denmark this dark time of year is brightened by Christmas trees. Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15 wishes to support other non profits as well as the area by providing a tree to share at Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It is important to let everyone know that there are active Danish heritage groups available in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

How will the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction funds benefit our organization?

• Lodge #15 is a philanthropic group. The profit from our tree will be added to our non-profit donation fund which is mostly funded by our two Æbleskiver Brunches. This fund regularly contributes to food drives, veterans organizations, Miracle League Baseball as well as Danish groups. Last year we donated more than $2,000 to other non-profits. This is on top of $9,000 it awarded in scholarships funded by a 7-course Danish Dinner named Kolde Bord.

Check out Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15’s tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!

Why did our organization choose to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction?

• FDMLL has chosen to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction to help raise funds for our youth baseball program and to spread the word about FDMLL to our local community.

How will the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction funds benefit our organization?

• Profits made through the various fundraising events FDMLL participate in has contributed to the purchase of new machines to maintain our ball fields at FDMLL. Running a ball field is a never ending cycle of expenses and we try to find and utilize as many local resources as possible to ease the cost on our families that participate in youth baseball. We use funds from fundraising events to pay for general expenses and in turn we are able to keep the cost low for families to sign up for a season of little league baseball.

Check out Fort Des Moines Little League’s tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!

Why did our organization choose to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction?

• We enjoy the festive festival and it serves our mission of promoting peace.

How will the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction funds benefit our organization?

• It will pay for the tree decorations we purchased or made for our tree.

Check out Friendship Force of Greater Des Moines‘ tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!

Why did our organization choose to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction?

• The mission of Full Circle Recovery is to expand pathways of recovery that empower people to embrace their full potential. We envision a culture where self-directed recovery is visible, accessible to all, and embraced by the community.
• To achieve our mission and vision, it is important that we recover out loud and share our stories so people see that recovery is possible.
• This event is an opportunity for the recovery community to raise awareness about recovery and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder.

How will the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction funds benefit our organization?

• Funds will benefit the organization by going directly to support peer recovery support services which are provided by people in recovery, for people in recovery.
• Trained peer recovery coaches meet with people who are seeking to begin or sustain their recovery. Recovery coaches help recoverees create a recovery plan, access resources to support their recovery journey, and create safe and fun spaces for meetings, groups, community events, and educational opportunities.
• This helps build recovery capital (personal, family/social, community, and cultural capital) for people in recovery.

Check out Full Circle Recovery Community Center’s tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!

Why did our organization choose to participate in the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction?

• As an Iowa-based nonprofit with a global mission, Self-Help International is grateful to partner with Christkindlmarket Des Moines for the opportunity to engage with the Central Iowa community and bring attention to how we are helping people help themselves in Ghana and Nicaragua.

How will the CDM Nonprofit Tree Silent Auction funds benefit our organization?

• In 1989, at the request of native Iowan and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, Self-Help International introduced Quality Protein Maize (QPM) to our programs. QPM has 90% of the nutritional value of skim milk, and has been instrumental in alleviating hunger in Ghana and Nicaragua. Today, with the help of Self-Help International’s agricultural training and support, Quality Protein Maize (QPM) grown by communities in Ghana and Nicaragua has both higher yield and more nutritional value to better feed families. In Ghana, QPM is also a vital part of both our School Feeding Program, which feeds 1,500 school children a daily breakfast, and our Growing Healthy Food, Growing Healthy Children program, which is reducing stunting in young children who live in rural Ghana. Donations help us alleviate hunger by enabling families to meet their needs with dignity.

Check out Self-Help International’s tree at Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 4^th – December 7^th, 2025!