Friendship Ark Homes & Community Services

06/05/2026

We are excited to announce Friendship Ark’s Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2026, Michelle Jackson-Worrick, our Human Resources Specialist. Michelle's Employee of the Quarter award recognized her for taking on an incredible workload this quarter—leading hiring, onboarding, staffing, and trainings—and having done so with consistency, positivity, and professionalism every step of the way. Her steady leadership and solution-focused approach have not only kept things running smoothly but have also strengthened teams across the organization. Michelle’s impact has been both wide-reaching and meaningful, making her a truly deserving Employee of the Quarter. We are grateful for Michelle's faithful commitment to the core members and to Friendship Ark. In recognition of her award, Michelle received a gift of $100. Nominations for Employee of the Quarter awards can be submitted by any staff of Friendship Ark and winners are selected by a diverse committee of staff peers. All Employee of the Quarter winners for a year are eligible to be selected as the Employee of the Year. Congratulations, Michelle! 🎉

06/04/2026

The weather has been amazing for our fishing enthusiasts to see if they can get any nibbles and this spot at McFarland Park was perfect for testing their luck. 🎣

06/03/2026

A big thank-you to SFM - The Work Comp Experts for their continued support of projects that help keep our core members and staff safe!
In May, Scott Van Patten and Jason Clausen stopped by the Friendship Ark office to present a generous $500 donation toward the purchase and installation of stairlifts in two of our homes.
We are grateful for the partnership and support of Scott, Jason, and SFM Insurance. Contributions like these help us continue our mission of providing safe, accessible, and welcoming homes for the individuals we serve.
Thank you for making a difference in our community!

06/03/2026

What an amazing gift we received! This specially designed electric trike built for two allows a member of the FA staff to ride alongside our core members, including those who may not be able to pedal or steer independently.
Nick loved being the very first to take it for a spin! We are so excited for the many core members who will now have the opportunity to experience the freedom, fun, and joy of a bike ride in a whole new way.
A heartfelt thank you to our generous donor for making this possible. Your kindness is helping create meaningful experiences and lasting memories for so many.

06/03/2026

If you or your loved one benefit from a sensory-friendly environment, don't miss your chance to experience America's favorite pastime with sensory-friendly modifications this coming Saturday.

Join ChildServe, the Autism Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Cubs on Sunday, June 7, for the third-annual Sensory-Friendly Game at the Ball Park! ⚾

The 2026 Sensory-Friendly Game will provide an environment designed for individuals with autism or sensory processing disorders in mind, so families can visit, play and enjoy the game. Special programming and activities are planned with modifications, including the mitigation of sounds and motions as much as possible, designated educational areas, calming rooms, directional signage and trained volunteers throughout the stadium.

Grab your tickets today! https://www.gofevo.com/event/Sensoryfriendly635

06/03/2026

Happy to share this wonderful opportunity for summer fun from our friends at Special Olympics Iowa. Go check it out and make it a great summer!

☀Sun-ified
🎉Fun-ified
👭Unified

Unified summer fun is on its way! You are invited to Athene North Shore at Easter Lake for Unified activities all summer long. Athletes and Unified partners can try fishing, pontoon rides, kayaking, nature walks, bike rides, and other outdoor activities. All events are free and will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays during June and July. Adaptive equipment will be provided by Athene North Shore.

Dates, activity schedules, and registration ➡ www.soiowa.org/unified-summer-fun/

06/02/2026

We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of a Financial Empowerment Major Grant through United Way of Story County. This generous support will create exciting new opportunities for adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them build financial knowledge, confidence, and independence. We’re looking forward to the positive impact this grant will make in the lives of the individuals we serve and are thankful for the investment in our mission.

United Way of Story County is proud to announce our latest Financial Empowerment Major Grant Awardees, totaling $68,000 in community investments:

Friendship Ark Homes & Community Services | $18,000

Friendship Ark will use the funding to purchase new equipment to expand their Representative Payee program and assist more members in opening IAble Savings Accounts. The new equipment will enable members to practice budgeting, explore online banking, and learn how to use IAble accounts in a supported, hands on environment.

Mustard Seed Farm | $50,000

Mustard Seed Community Farm will launch a community kitchen space and micro-enterprise incubator. This initiative lowers barriers to financial growth by providing free kitchen access, equipment, and instruction—allowing residents to preserve local produce for their families or test recipes to launch their own small businesses.

Read the media release: uwstory.org/news/united-way-story-county-awards-financial-empowerment-major-grants

06/02/2026

A huge thank you to core member parents Craig and Sandy for transforming this area with their hard work and generosity! They tackled the weeding, installed a border, and added decorative rock to create a clean look.
We’re also grateful for the donated materials, which came from leftover supplies from a project completed by their son. His thoughtful contribution helped make this project possible.
Craig and Sandy, thank you for sharing your time, talents, and resources with us. Your dedication has created a space that will be enjoyed by the core members every time they spend time in the backyard. We truly appreciate all you have done to improve our space!

06/01/2026

Please join us in thanking our 2026 Business Partners at the Friend Level for their incredible support of adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.

Their generous contribution helps fund our mission of empowering adults with intellectual disabilities achieve their fullest potential. Because of partners like them, we can continue growing our programs, expanding opportunities, and serving more individuals from our waiting list. This year, a portion of their support will go to our ARK-itects Capital Campaign and will help us build our new programming and recreation hub.

We encourage you to support those who support our cause. If you find yourself interacting with or visiting these businesses, let them know you appreciate their commitment to building a more inclusive community.

Apres Bar Co.
Availa Bank
Furman Realty
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Moorman Clothiers Ames
Overflow Thrift Store

Learn more about our partners at:
www.apresbarco.com
www.availa.bank
www.furmanrealty.com
www.mgmc.org
www.moormanclothiers.com
www.overflowthriftstore.org

06/01/2026

Congratulations to all of the athletes who worked hard and put forth their best efforts during Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games in May. 🎉