The Latest

Attorney General Bird visits Bridges of Iowa

March 4, 2026

On Tuesday, March 3, members of the Bridges of the Iowa team had the great opportunity to sit down with Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to discuss how best to help Iowans facing substance abuse issues.

Attorney General Bird emphasized the decrease in fentanyl-related deaths in Iowa, and how her office would continue to support long-term treatment options.

We want to extend our thanks for her time and graciousness in learning about Bridges of Iowa, and the tremendous services we offer.

It’s Great to Be Recognized! - The Volunteer Group of the Year Award

February 5, 2026

On January 27, Bridges of Iowa was recognized by the City of Des Moines Department of Parks and Recreation as the Volunteer Group of the Year! This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clients and staff.

Here’s a excerpt from the press release:

“The Bridges of Iowa organization bridges resources to community members in need and provides support for them to recover, rebuild, and reconnect. With a long-term, community-based approach, they work to improve emotional and physical health, repair relationships, secure employment, and lead fulfilling and productive lives. Volunteering with Des Moines Parks and Recreation weekly provides the opportunity to give back to their community, develop leadership skills, and explore their passions. 

This year, Bridges of Iowa volunteers cleared tree limbs after storms, raked leaves and helped maintain trails, weeded and mulched community gardens, planted and maintained flowers to add beauty, washed flowerpots at the greenhouse, maintained cemetery grounds and memorial flags, winterized the Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden, and more. 

Their consistent and flexible help for more than a decade has been a great asset to our community, and they’ve donated more than 8,000 hours of service (valued at more than $219,000). For their dedication and commitment to our parks, trails, and cemeteries, we honored Bridges of Iowa as our 2025 Volunteer Group of the Year.” (MacLean, 2026).

Check out the entire press release here.

MacLean, A. (2026, January 28). Parks and Recreation Department Honors Volunteer and Community Partners. City of Des Moines. https://www.dsm.city/news_detail_T21_R439.php

Leadership Urbandale & Bridges of Iowa

January 30, 2026

We’d like to extend our thanks for Leadership Urbandale - an organization dedicated to developing future community leaders - for touring our facility, getting to know our program, and sharing ideas.

Taking time to exchange ideas, learning about each other, and collaborating towards a common goal is necessary to reach our vision of what our organization strives to be.

Bridges Named the Volunteer Group of the Year

December 8, 2025

The City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department has just named Bridges of Iowa its Volunteer Group of the Year for 2025!

Every week, our clients and staff contribute their time and energy to give back to the community - whether it be winterizing the Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden (pictured), cleaning up local cemeteries, or weeding and getting trees ready for planting at the city greenhouse.

“It’s great, it’s wonderful,” Clinical Director Kelli Grochala said. “Our people love the chance to help out, and it’s great to see everyone working so hard to give back to the community.”

Know the News

October 19, 2025

We’re filled with gratitude to KCCI and other media outlets who came out to cover our event this week at Colby Park.

Check out the video!

Group of people standing on a wooden bridge at night, celebrating an achievement, with colorful painted panels supporting the bridge, trees, and parked cars in the background.
Two women engaging in a serious conversation at a large indoor event with many seated attendees in the background. One woman has long blonde hair and wears a plaid blazer, while the other has short curly hair, piercings, and wears a sleeveless denim vest with a campaign badge.
People walking on a decorated float during a nighttime parade, with signs promoting Bridges of Iowa and featuring colorful cartoon illustrations and text.
Group of eleven men standing in a parking lot at night, some wearing blue T-shirts and blazers, with cars and dark trees in the background.
A group of six men on a stage at a celebration event, with a backdrop reading 'Bridges of Iowa' and a sign on the lectern celebrating 25 years of Bridges of Iowa Inc. Two men are hugging, while one man holds a microphone, and another is reading from a piece of paper. The setting has a stone wall and a banner.
A group of people gathered outdoors at night, with two men hugging in the foreground. Some people are smiling and chatting, while others are standing or looking on.

An Evening Celebrating Recovery

October 17, 2025

Bridges of Iowa thanks everyone in the standing room only crowd at last night’s 25th anniversary, public art unveiling, and graduation at Windsor Heights’ Colby Park.

As Jeff Lamberti, Bridges chairman, said: “Everyone here this evening truly cares about substance use disorder and the lives shattered by addiction. Every one of us has been touched by it, and our families are forever changed because of it. And that includes the Lamberti family. Which is what led my parents, Don and Charlene, to start the Bridges of Iowa long-term treatment program in 2000.”

Two men are shaking hands and talking at a nighttime outdoor event, with a group of people smiling in the background.
Three individuals are standing in front of a blue backdrop with the words 'Bridges Iowa' and a star logo. The woman on the right is holding a microphone and appears to be speaking. She has short gray hair, is wearing a red zip-up sweater, and has a serious expression. The man in the middle, wearing glasses and a checkered shirt, has his hand over his heart and is looking towards the woman. The man on the left, wearing glasses and a maroon shirt, is standing with his hands behind his back, observing the scene.

Bridges of Iowa Public Art Unveiling and Graduation!

September 26, 2025

Bridges of Iowa is excited to announce that to celebrate its 25th anniversary, it has commissioned a fantastic work of public art, which is set to be unveiled at Colby Park (6900 School St.) in Windsor Heights. The unveiling will also feature a graduation ceremony for those men and women who have successfully completed our treatment program, and are ready to move forward into the next beautiful phase of their lives.

Our work of public art is designed by acclaimed local artist and muralist, Amy Putney Koenig, who drew on her own experience to tell the story of treatment and recovery. Amy uses compelling images and the words of Bridges of Iowa graduates to convey the journey so many Iowa families endure, and the joy of recovery.

Jeff Lamberti, the Chairman of Bridges of Iowa’s Board of Directors said, “Our 25th anniversary stands in testament to both the need for addiction treatment in Iowa and the power of a long-term approach that includes life skills, physical healing, financial literacy, employment readiness, accountability, responsibility, and forgiveness.”

Please join us in celebrating at Colby Park at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 16!

A comic strip-style illustration with multiple panels depicting different emotional scenes. The first panel shows a person sitting on the floor, holding their head in distress. The second panel features a woman looking into a mirror with another person applying makeup. The third panel presents a woman with blonde hair jumping joyfully in the air. The fourth panel illustrates a woman holding a star-shaped object, and a man standing with a small figure. The fifth panel shows a woman holding a baby with a flower bouquet labeled 'In Memory' nearby.
A comic-style banner with three sections. The first section shows a person kneeling with their face in their hands, against a black background. The middle section has a woman with blonde hair, sitting on the floor, with the word 'RECOVERY' vertically beside her. The third section features a diverse group of six people, sitting and standing with friendly expressions, and the words 'BRIDGES of IOWA' above them.
A wooden fence with black and white murals depicting community and social themes, including recovery, rebuilding lives, supporting bridges, and sobriety.

Bridges Joins the Barnstormers

April 23, 2025

As Bridges commemorates an extraordinary 25 years of operation, we’ll be joined by our community supporters, alumni, and staff to in watching the Iowa Barnstormers square off against the Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday, June 14 at 7:05 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena.

There will be a special celebration recognizing members of our staff and Board of Directors for their outstanding service at halftime at midfield. So, if you’re at the game and want to know more about our organization or just want to say “Hi,” come up to one of us and introduce yourself.

If you’d like to donate to our cause (it’s ALWAYS appreciated), you can do so by following the link below.

As a reminder to staff, make sure to RSVP by May 21 to receive your tickets!

Donate
Logo of a football club with a red and black circle, a yellow airplane with wings, and the text "Football Club Des Moines".