Paint-A-Thon

Many community partners come together to make the local annual Paint-A-Thons a success. Area partners work together to identify homes, make necessary repairs, recruit volunteers, and do the painting to beautify homes.

Eligible homes are to be single story or small one and a half story houses owned by a person 55 or older, or disabled, or a single parent, or a veteran, with limited income, who is unable to afford to hire the work done.

Fort Madison 2025

The Fort Madison Paint-a-Thon focuses on homes within their city limits. Painting occurred the week of April 28 – May 2, 2025. Four homes were provided minor fixes and a fresh coat of paint.

See pictures from 2025 on this Facebook Post

Applications in past years have been available at Fort Madison Chamber, Kempker True Value & Rental, Inc, Fort Madison Library, City of Fort Madison (City Hall) and online here.

Fort Madison started the city Paint-A-Thon in 2018. Between 2018 and 2025 there have been 28 homes painted. Many also receive minor repairs to be ready to paint.

Thank you to the following partners: Kempker’s True Value & Rental, Community Action of Southeast Iowa, Iowa Fertilizer Company, Climax, Scotts, Siemens, FMCH, Connection Bank & Insurance, Midwest One Bank, KLM Realty, Lee County Bank, Farmers Savings Bank, ConAgra, and Union Presbyterian Church in Fort Madison.

Burlington 2024

The Burlington Paint-A-Thon is a collaborative effort between Community Action of Southeast Iowa, Two Rivers Bank, Diamond Vogel Paint, and many area volunteers. The event started in 1993 and is held at the beginning of September each year, generally the week of Labor Day.

  • In 26 years over 11,000 volunteers have helped paint over 500 homes in Des Moines County using over 8,000 gallons of paint.
  • 2022 is the 29th year for the Paint-a-Thon as they did not have it in 2020 due to Coronavirus.
  • Two Rivers Bank provides the advertising, pays for volunteer t-shirts and a luncheon. Diamond Vogel supplies all the paint that is used and Community Action helps choose the houses to be painted and does small repairs on the houses if necessary.

For more information on how to get involved or volunteer, please call Brooke Henry at Two Rivers at 319-753-9110.