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.
Burlington 2025

- 2025 Paint-A-Thon Flyer
- Paint-A-Thon Applications are due July 7, 2025
- June 11, 2025 – Press Release in The Hawkeye
- Local client testimonial on YouTube
- Homes will be painted the week of Labor Day (the first full week of September).
- Those interested in volunteering can contact Two Rivers. Painting will occur September 2-6, 2025.
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.
- From 1992 – 2024, 565 homes have been painted.
- In the first 26 years, over 11,000 volunteers helped paint over 500 homes in Des Moines County using over 8,000 gallons of paint.
- The Paint-A-Thon has also painted homes in Mediapolis since 2001.
- 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.

- Article in The Hawkeye about 2022 planning
- Take a look at the before and after pictures on our 2023 Facebook Page Post.
- Article in The Hawkeye about the 2021 event
- Read about the Burlington 2019 Paint-A-Thon from the Hawkeye here.
- Short picture video of ADDS volunteers on Facebook.
- An article from The Hawkeye about the Paint-A-Thon 2019.
- An article from The Hawkeye about the Paint-A-Thon 2018.

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.
- 2025 Houses Wanted Flyer
- Read the 2024 announcement in the Pen City Current
- 2023 Press Release talking about the process, eligibility, volunteers, and more.
- For more information please contact the Fort Madison Beautification Foundation: 319-463-9030
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.
- See pictures from 2025 on this Facebook Post
- See pictures from 2024 on this Facebook post
- See pictures from 2023 on the Fort Madison Beautification Foundation Facebook Page
- Read about the 2020 Paint-A-Thon from the Daily Democrat here.
- Read about the 2019 Paint-A-Thon from 101.7 The Bull here.
- Fort Madison applications are generally released in the early spring.



