Half of the proceeds from Avenue of Flags subscriptions are paid to youth groups whose volunteers help us set up and take down the flags each flag holiday.
The remaining proceeds support a wide variety of activities and programs for youth in the North Liberty area.
In the Optimist 2023-2024 year, we paid out $24,833 to Avenue of Flag participants and $29,234 for other youth programs in the North Liberty area.
Started in 2011, the Avenue of Flags project was an Eagle Scout Project done by Sam O’Brien from Boy Scout Troop 216. The first year of operation 77 flags were placed but in 2024, that number grew to more than 1,300.
Subscriptions to Avenue of Flags include flags placed on the five flag holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day.
For $40, the Optimist Clubs will place a 3′ by 5′ American Flag on a 10-foot pole in front of our home or business on these five national holidays.
If you would like to have more than one flag at your home, like one on each side of your driveway, or if you live on a corner lot, one on each street, complete the sign-up form and include $40 for each additional flag.
Consider subscribing in honor of a soldier or in memory of a veteran or loved one.
Subscriptions also make great gifts. You can donate a subscription to someone else’s home or business, just be sure to use a separate form for each address.
A receptacle, which remains in your yard, will be installed in front of your home or business approximately 3-8 feet from the street. The top of the receptacle has a plastic cap on it that is at ground level so you can mow over it without any problem.
We will contact Iowa One Call so utilities are not disturbed when we place the receptacle.
Optimists and volunteers will deliver the flags at dawn and retrieve them at dusk, on the five noted flag holidays.
Each year we will send you a request for renewal.
Please note that inclement or severe weather may prevent flag delivery if deemed unsafe for our crew members.
Do you know a group that works with or supports youth in our area? Some of the groups that field crews for us include: church groups, scout troops, sports groups, dance groups, music clubs, parent groups such as post prom and PTO, sports traveling teams, and other groups that donate their earnings to youth interest groups.
Groups that support youth in our area are eligible to field a crew that will be assigned a route to place flags on the flag holidays.
Flags are placed on five flag holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day. Placing flags takes 90 minutes to 2 hours in the morning and 60-90 minutes in the evening.
Groups putting up and taking down flags for each holiday can earn between $500-600 that can be donated to a non-profit group that supports youth in our area.
The safety of our crews is very important to us so if we feel the weather makes it unsafe for our crews to go out, we will cancel distribution for the day.
