November Shatters Food Pantry Network Usage Record

This November, the DMARC Food Pantry Network served more individual and families than any other month in our 40-year history of food assistance. 18,415 individuals sought food assistance from the Food Pantry Network in November 2016. Last November, which had previously held the record, saw 16,281 individuals served. This is an increase of over 2,000 people, or 13.1%! DMARC also served significantly more families than ever before. November 2016 was the first time we've ever served over 7,000 families in a single month: 7,453. Interpreting the Data Some ...

Read More


Douglas M. Woods “Challenge Hunger” Campaign

This article was first published as "'Spiritual Awakening' Leads to Douglas M. Woods 'Challenge Hunger' Campaign" in the Feb/Mar/Apr 2015 issue of The Voice. by Kristine Frakes, Development Director What do The Grapes of Wrath, a primitive southern Iowa farmhouse, and a Bible verse have in common? For retired West Des Moines police officer Doug Woods, the convergence of these writings and memories of a boyhood experience led to his self-described "spiritual awakening" in 2012- and, soon after, the launch of the first Douglas M. Woods Hunger Challenge to benefit ...

Read More


DMARC Hosts Downtown Chamber Lunch, Learn, and Volunteer

DMARC and the Des Moines Downtown Chamber hosted a Lunch, Learn, and Volunteer event on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Guests were served lunch by Lambert & Ewers while they listened to DMARC Food Pantry Network Director Rebecca Whitlow talk about DMARC’s programs and services. This was the first Lunch, Learn, and Volunteer put on by the Downtown Chamber. “Lunch, Learn, and Volunteer was created as a response to the fact that we have a large number of nonprofit organizations among our Downtown Chamber members, and each have a great story to tell,” said ...

Read More


Chicken of the Sea Donates $10,000

Chicken of the Sea donated $10,000 to DMARC/Move the Food on Thursday, May 15, 2014. The donation took place during a segment of "Great Day" on KCWI 23. Chicken of the Sea is celebrating their 100th Anniversary, and are travelling the United States donating $1 million to nonprofit organizations. The check was presented by Chicken of the Sea's Senior Vice President Christie Fleming to DMARC's Executive Director Rev. Sarai Schnucker-Rice. The donation of $10,000 supplies nearly 12,000 meals. Canned tuna is an affordable source of protein for meal boxes used at DMARC food ...

Read More


DMARC Will Help More People

The DMARC 1435 Mulberry Initiative is a non-traditional, fast-track $1.3 million capital campaign. The project will support the property purchase and renovation of 1435 Mulberry Street, as well as equipment and furnishings and food inventory to stock the warehouse. The 1435 Mulberry Campaign will help DMARC provide more services and food for more people in more places. Goals are to strengthen and stabilize the emergency food system, enhance and equalize access to nutritional food, and improve community health in Greater Des Moines/Polk County, Iowa. In addition to ...

Read More


Kiwanis say “Goodbye” to old and “Hello” to DMARC’s new Food Pantry Warehouse

Local Kiwanis clubs were invited to a special ceremony on Saturday, January 11, 2014, honoring their commitment and support to DMARC’s Food Pantry Network. In 1986, Des Moines area Kiwanis (approximately 12 clubs) built a warehouse at 36th Street to house the food pantry warehouse. Today's Des Moines area Kiwanis groups include: West Des Moines Kiwanis Kiwanis Club of Johnston Kiwanis Miracle League Kiwanis Club of Des Moines (downtown) Ankeny Kiwanis Northwest Kiwanis Club Golden K Kiwanis Urbandale Kiwanis After a brief celebration and ...

Read More


DMARC Food Pantry Network to Receive Hy-Vee Grocery Donation at New Warehouse

The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network will be receiving a shipment of $5,500 worth of cereal from the Hy-Vee Stores on Tuesday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m., at 1435 Mulberry Street, Des Moines. “This is the first shipment of food to DMARC’s newly renovated building on the southwest side of downtown Des Moines,” shared Food Pantry Network Director Rebecca Whitlow. “Because Hy-Vee is such a wonderful partner, we wanted to celebrate the Colossal Cookie Sale by receiving their donation as the first to our new site,” continued Whitlo...

Read More


DMARC Sees Increase in Requests for Food

The DMARC Food Pantry Network is seeing a disturbing increase in demand. The November numbers reveal a heavy 10% spike in individuals served compared to numbers from November 2012, which were also high. In November 2013 alone, DMARC provided food for 4,373 families (14,070 individuals); enough food for 168,840 meals. This followed an 11.5% increase in the number of individuals served in October 2013. The poor economy continues to present challenges for families in Greater Des Moines, especially since the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamp ...

Read More


Hy-Vee Colossal Cookie Sale Reaches Total Grocery Donations of $85,098

This year, Hy-Vee Food Stores from across the greater Des Moines area sold 552,617 cookies as part of the Colossal Cookie Sale benefiting the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network. Thanks, to ALL who bought cookies! Bakery lunchpail cookies sold for 12 cents each, and for each cookie sold, Hy-Vee is donating one penny of food products to the DMARC Food Pantry Network. Since the Cookie Sale began in 2003, Hy-Vee stores have sold over 8.5 million cookies and have donated more than $85,000 in food products to DMARC’s network of neighborhood ...

Read More


DMARC Partners with Walgreens in Red Barrel Program

The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) is partnering with 21 metro area Walgreens’ stores, in the Red Barrel Program for the month of June. A kick-off event for the month-long donation drive will be held at the Walgreens on E. 14th Street and University Avenue, Des Moines on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The KRNT AM1350 will also be present from 10 a.m. to Noon with an on-air celebrity and promotional giveaways. During this Walgreens donation drive in June, DMARC and MovetheFood will accept donations of cash and shelf-stable food and personal items ...

Read More