COUNCIL BLUFFS - Life and lunch were among the topics Tuesday when Iowa first lady Mari Culver sat down with a few boys at the Children’s Square USA emergency shelter.

Before they feasted on chicken, baked potatoes and pasta salad, Culver made the sign of the cross and one boy said an impromptu prayer.

As Culver sliced into her baked potato, she asked the boys how they liked it at the shelter.

One 13-year-old shrugged: “It’s OK.” Another boy smiled, saying his room was nice and the staff nicer.

Culver visited the Children’s Square shelter and Micah House as part of a tour to promote a statewide spring cleaning day at shelters.

They will be among 38 shelters taking part in the statewide event Saturday. Culver plans to don bluejeans for a day of painting walls or washing windows, whatever is needed.

She encouraged Iowans to donate their time and money to shelters on Saturday and throughout the year.

“Many of the shelters across the state operate on shoestring budgets,” Culver said. “They really need help.”

At Children’s Square, volunteers will plant flowers in the courtyard and put sand in the playground. At Micah House, which Culver also visited, plans include yard work and minor repairs.

Children’s Square provides emergency shelter for children who come from dangerous living situations, those who have run away from home or are homeless, and transitional housing for those waiting for placement in a home or facility.

Micah House is an emergency shelter for women and families.

The spring cleaning day is not the most important of the shelter’s functions, but the surroundings go a long way toward making the place home to kids, even temporarily.

A young girl’s bedroom, for example, has a light purple butterfly border and bright yellow bed frame. The infant toddler room contains brightly colored toys as well as a crib, toddler bed and rocking chair.

“We really want kids to feel good about being here,” said Mike Barker, vice president of Children’s Square. “They’re traumatized enough about being taken out of their homes.”

The shelter’s residents on Tuesday included seven children, ranging from an 8-year-old boy to teenagers. But the population changes from day to day, illustrating the emergency nature of many shelter stays.

“They (shelters) perform such an essential service across the state in terms of providing one of the basic needs - physical shelter,” Culver said.

• Contact the writer:

444-1310, elizabeth.ahlin@owh.com