Our History
Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill - both sharing roots with the United Methodist Church as well as being United Way of Central Iowa pattern agencies - traditionally worked in parallel to provide different programs with the similar goal of helping children and families in need. In July 2023, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work together to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.
2023
2018
2015
1990
1986
1978
1954
1893
Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work together to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.
Bidwell Riverside and Hawthorn Hill form a Management Service Organization (MSO) to enhance our financial stability and expand our capacity to help.
Bidwell Riverside and Hawthorn Hill partner together.
New Directions Shelter was created.
The Home Connection program was created.
Hawthorn Hill started its mission to help families secure stable housing and financial independence.
Bidwell Riverside began the Christmas Sharing Program. In that first year, 40 boxes of food were supplied to families.
Bidwell Riverside Center started in 1893, when community members witnessed the pain and poverty of the poor citizens in Des Moines, Iowa. In response, the Methodist Deaconess Program helped begin Bidwell Riverside Center.
