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PERRYSTRONG

In the wake of the tragic incident at the Perry High School on Thursday, January 4th, 2024, the Perry Community has rallied to lift each other up and share support. Additionally, support for #PERRYSTRONG and #BLUEJAYSTRONG from all across Iowa and beyond has been greatly appreciated.

This page is an attempt to compile information for various resources and community activities and will be updated as often as possible. Details subject to change.

 

To submit information or suggest updates, contact the Perry Chamber of Commerce: info@perryiachamber.org or (515)465-4601.

#WEAREPERRY (1)

Updates & Announcements

 

Perry Community School District Updates:

    • Elementary School
      • Tuesday, January 23: An Open House for elementary parents and students will take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Counseling services will be available onsite.
      • Wednesday, January 24: Elementary students will return to the classroom and will have early dismissal at 2:00 p.m., which will continue until further notice.
    • Middle School
      • Wednesday, January 24: An Open House for parents and students will take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Counseling services will be available onsite.
      • Thursday, January 25: Middle School students will return to the classroom with an early dismissal at 1:45 p.m. that day, and early dismissal will continue until further notice.
    • High School (pending approval of building for re-entry)
      • Tuesday, January 30: An Open House for parents and students will take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Counseling services will be available onsite.
      • Wednesday, January 31: High School students will return to the classroom with an early dismissal at 1:45 p.m. that day, and early dismissal will continue until further notice.
    • Extracurricular competitions resumed January 16th. Coaches and sponsors will share additional information with their respective teams, including details on any practices and schedule of activities.
    • PACES has resumed its normal schedule of 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. as of Wednesday, January 24.
  • DMACC Update:
    • In-person classes at DMACC began Wednesday, January 10th. Students who have questions or need help, should contact the DMACC Perry Van Kirk Center: perrycenter@dmacc.edu or (515)428-8100.
    • Students taking online courses should have already received emails from their instructors.
    • If a student needs assistance or flexibility regarding any classes, please let the instructor know. DMACC course textbooks are available at the Perry Van Kirk Center.
  • St. Patrick Catholic School Update:
    • Classes resumed Wednesday, January 17th

Counseling & Support Resources

MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELING

  • 24-Hour Help Hotlines
    • 988 24/7 Crisis & Support: Dial 988 (240 languages available)
    • Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-550-0004
    • Your Life Iowa: 855-581-8111
    • Text NAMI to 741-741
  • Heart of Iowa Community Services www.hicsiowa.org
    • Connect students needing counseling to long-term mental health support and care coordination services. Financial assistance is available for those without insurance or with limited insurance coverage.
    • Contact Brandon Tews at brandon.tews@dallascountyiowa.gov or 515-993-1722 or 1-877-236-3227
  • Project Recovery Iowa
    • Free online confidential support ONLINE ONLY due to weather
    • Schedule a virtual conversation, phone or chat: 800-447-1985 or online
  • Student Assistance Program (SAP)

 

  • NEW: Medicaid Transportation Benefits can now be used to access crisis counseling opportunities in Perry!
    • Simply call your MCO at the numbers below and a representative will assist you in scheduling the ride.
      • Iowa Total Care: 1-883-404-1061
      • Molina Healthcare: 844-236-0894
      • Amerigroup/Wellpoint: 833-731-2140
    • A driver will be dispatched as quickly as possible for same-day needs. Members under 16 will need to submit a Child Release Request (Consent and Release of Liability form completed by their parent/guardian to travel unaccompanied). Members under 12 cannot ride without escort due to state requirements. 

 

  • LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs
    • Comfort Dogs - Eden, Gideon, Katie, Phineas, Charity, and Joanna, and their handlers - traveled from Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to be in Perry over the past few weeks and we thank them for all their rapid deployment to assist the Perry Community. They are back to support the transition back to school, but can be contacted for additional visits.

CHILDCARE

  • Free Drop-in Childcare Available at Acorns & Oaks Christian Academy
    • Free, Drop-in care for children preschool through 5th grade
    • Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5pm
    • Thanks to Parker Trucking LLC, Perry Lutheran Homes, and Christ Lutheran Church - Bouton
    • More info: marci@acornsoaks.com or (515)490-6013
  • Free Child Watch Program at Rec Center
    • The City of Perry has partnered with Acorns & Oaks Christian Academy, Perry Child Development Center & P.A.C.E.S. to provide a child watch program for school aged children at the McCreary Community Building.
      • 7am-5pm with meals, snacks, and activities provided at no cost. Free Will Donations will be collected
      • *NO Childcare on Friday, January 19th
      • Parents will need to escort children into the McCreary Community Building, and sign them in, requested by 9am in order to get a proper lunch count. If the pick-up guardian will be different from those who drop off, additional contact information (email and phone number) is needed.
      • For more information please contact: McCreary Community Building at 515-465-5621

MEAL ASSISTANCE

  • Grab & Go Lunches
    • Available each day until further notice at the Elementary School from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Any changes due to winter weather will be posted on the school’s website, School Messenger, KCCI, and social media pages.
  • Perry Public Library Food Recovery Program | 1101 Willis Avenue | (515)465-3569 | collection of donated food items delivered to fridge and shelves in the Library atrium, free for pick-up by any/all. Availability of items/quantity varies daily.
    • Stocked on Monday/Wednesday/Friday by 10am from local stores, as available
    • Stocked on select Thursdays from Supply Hive Food Rescue, as available (www.thesupplyhivedsm.org)
    • Regular Library Hours:
      • Monday - Thursday 10am-8pm
      • Friday 10am-6pm
      • Saturday 10am-5pm
      • Sunday CLOSED
  • Perry Food Pantry | 3112 Willis Avenue | (515)570-2975 | some restrictions may apply
    • Tuesdays 10am-12:30pm
    • Thursdays 3pm - 6pm
  • Mobile Food Pantry
    • Crossroads Church | 2810 1st Street
      • Last Saturday of every other month (odd months)
      • Next: Saturday, January 27th, 8:30a-10:30am (while supplies last)
    • Dallas County Hospital - North Parking Lot | 610 10th Street
      • Third Wednesday of every other month (even months)
      • Next: Wednesday, February 21st, 3pm until supplies last (parking lot opens at 2pm)
  • Community Meals
    • Free Community Meal with donations to benefit Perry Schools
      • Saturday, January 27th, 4-8pm hosted by Perry Hy-Vee at Perry National Guard Armory - 2930 Willis Ave
      • Meal provided by Hy-vee with free will donations accepted
      • Contact Larry Vodenik for more info: (515)490-7712

LEGAL AID

  • Iowa Legal Aid 
    • Helping eligible clients with civil, non-criminal legal problems:
      • Housing & Foreclosure
      • Consumer & Debt Collection
      • Public Benefits
      • Access to Education
      • Family Law
    • Perry Residents should contact: PerryCommunity@iowalaw.org or (319)329-8420
    • Partners should contact Lisa directly at LGavin@iowalaw.org

 

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT/RESOURCES

  • Dallas County Health Department Health Navigation Referrals
  • Salvation Army Mobile Services Center
    • The Salvation Army helps with rent, utilities, gas, personal care items, food, and other information. For more specific information about services offered, contact the Salvation Army at 515-282-3599.
    • Through the end of the year on the 3rd Monday of each month, 9:30am-3pm with a break for lunch, the Salvation Army Mobile Services will be at the Perry Public Library while the mobile center receives regular maintenance.
    • This is a free service and no registration is required. For more information, visit www.perry.lib.ia.us, call 515-465-3569, or visit the library.

Community Activities

  • Free Drinks at Perry Perk | 1201 Warford Street
    • Perry Perk is offering free drinks to Perry students and staff during the week of 1/8
    • All are invited to come in, play a board game, or color in coloring books, hang out with friends, and find community.
    • Made possible through donations from the community; to support contact during business hours (7am-2pm) at 515-897-8035 or send a message on the Perry Perk Facebook page

 

  • Class of 2021 Mail Service
    • The The class of 2021 is hosting a card drive for anyone who would like to send a heartfelt letter to those impacted by this tragedy. Whether that be a police officer, a teacher, a hospital employee, or classmate. Put your thoughts on paper and send a letter to someone struggling. It's a small gesture with a big heart, bringing comfort and support when they need it the most.
    • Card Boxes at Perry Police Department, Perry Hy-Vee, Perry Grand 3 Theatre, and Rainbow International
    • Mail-in Option: Perry Chamber of Commerce | PO Box 472 | Perry, IA 50220

 

  • THANK YOU to the following for supporting and coordinating activities in Perry over the past few weeks:
    • 1/10, 1/16, 1/17, 1/22, 1/23 Perry Grand 3 Theatres (free movies thanks to Perry Optimist Club, Re/Max Concepts Cares, Rainbow International, Brelsford Family Farms, Walton Tree Service, and Meriwether Wilson & Co
    • 1/11 Kozy Korner Stables (horse visits)
    • 1/11 Stop & Smell the Flours (free pie)
    • 1/12 The Lazy Goose & Boba Tea (free drinks thanks to Jessica Molina, Ashley Kautzky Platt, and Keller Williams Greater Des Moines)
    • 1/14 Tin Pig Tavern (community meal thanks to Landus and The Matt & Shanda Carstens Family Foundation)
    • 1/21 Free Spaghetti Luncheon at Perry Elks
    • 1/27 Free Chili Dinner by Hy-Vee at National Guard Armory
    • Community Blood Drives
      • LifeServe Blood Center is the main blood provider to hospitals in Dallas County, including Dallas County Hospital, UnityPoint Health – Methodist West Hospital, and metropolitan hospitals MercyOne Des Moines, UnityPoint Health – Lutheran Hospital, Broadlawns, and Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
      • A message from LifeServe following the Community Blood Drives: Thank you all so much for your support in the Perry blood drives. The additional units collected at the drives helped not only replenished the blood that was used the week prior, but also keep the blood supply up with all of the winter weather and cancellations we had. Those additional units were what we were able to use to keep hospital shelves stocked while most of the state was shut down. Here are the official combined results of all of the blood drives:
        • 116 registered to donate
        • 50 first time donors!!!
        • 96 were able to donate
        • 101 units of blood collected!!!
        • Up to 303 lives saved or sustained!!!!
      • For more information on eligibility requirements or to schedule a donation, visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call LifeServe at (515)309-4852.

 

  • Funeral Services for Dan Marburger
    • Information at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory
    • Honor the Route of Principal Dan Marburger Back Home to Perry
    • Visitation: Friday, January 19th at Perry Elementary School Gymnasium (1600 8th Street); with family present 2-7pm
    • Funeral: Saturday, January 20th, 10am-11am at Lutheran Church of Hope - WDSM (925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, 50266)
  • Funeral Services for Ahmir Jollif
    • Information at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory
    • Visitation: Wednesday, January 10th at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home’s Perry Chapel from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., with the family being present from 4 – 7 p.m.
    • Funeral: Thursday, January 11th at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Perry beginning at 10:30 a.m.

 

Donations & Fundraisers

  • Upcoming Fundraising Events & Community Meals

 

  • Perry Community School District Fund at Raccoon Valley Bank
    • Donations by check or cash can be made at any Raccoon Valley Bank locations in Perry, Adel, Dallas Center or Grimes. All checks should be made out to the Perry Community School District with the account distinction written in the memo line. Donations can also be mailed to the Raccoon Valley Bank at PO Box 129, Perry, Iowa 50220.
    • Perry Community Schools will distribute 100% of the donations collected to those impacted via two separate funds:
      • Ahmir Jolliff Family
      • Victims/Staff/Students of Perry Community School

 

 

 

  • Harland Ace Hardware
    • To help support Perry Strong, Ace Hardware in Perry will be receiving an order of blue LED light bulbs by the middle of this week. All blue bulb profits will be donated to the victim fund established at the Raccoon Valley Bank.

 

 

  • Perry Boy Scouts Troop 127 Teddy Bear Drive
    • At this time, donations have surpassed the goal of ensuring all Perry students receive a teddy bear on their first day back to school!
    • Perry BSA Troop 127 thanks all for donations and request that any future support be financial donations to the family funds at Raccoon Valley Bank
    • Contact: perry_troop_127@yahoo.com or 515-205-6408

 

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