It takes a community to meet the need – that’s why we have opportunities for individuals, families, congregations, workplaces and large donors to get involved!
Hosting a food and fund drive helps add more variety on food pantry shelves while raising awareness about food insecurity in Greater Des Moines.
Hosting a drive is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
Host a Food and Fund Drive
Resources
Spotlight:
The Dana Company
When the Dana Company approached DMARC about hosting a drive, our team provided educational information on food insecurity as well as guidance on hosting a drive to make things easier.
“During COVID, The Dana Company held a drive of strictly monetary donations online which made the process even easier. It was great that DMARC’s website offered the option to select where the donor wanted their contribution to go, and how much of that item could be purchased with the donation. DMARC was even able to help us track our internal donation teams so we knew which team in our office had won the drive. Our committee has enjoyed coming up with fun “prizes” for winning teams within the office – from a pie in the face of the President of the agency, to covering our Vice President in silly string. The Dana Company is proud to work with DMARC in the ongoing fight against food poverty in our community.”
– Jenifer Patten, AINS Senior Account Manager at the Dana Company
Annual Opportunities to Host a Drive
Souper Bowl
Every February around the big game.
Stamp Out Hunger
Our largest drive of the year. Collect food donations at your local grocery store in addition to your drive.
Iowa vs. Iowa State
Turn Iowa’s biggest rivalry into an opportunity to give back through a competitive drive.
Halloween and Winter Holidays
Join us on halloween night for Halloween on the Hill in Historic Sherman Hill.
Donating Food
When you donate nonperishable items, DMARC is able to provide a greater selection of food within our Food Pantry Network. Imagine the surprise and delight on a child’s face when they walk in and see their favorite box of healthy cereal sitting on the shelf!
Keep in mind that food donations need to be sorted by volunteers before they can be distributed to our Network. DMARC always welcomes volunteers who are willing to spend an hour or two helping us with these tasks!
Food Donations vs. Monetary Donations
Did you know that DMARC Can purchase up to 6x more food than you can with the same dollar amount at the grocery store? By buying pantry staples by the truckload, we turn your gift into food in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Spotlight:
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Randy Jensen is a member of the St. Francis Pastoral Council and has served on the Des Moines Area Religious Council board of directors. When trying to ramp up fundraising within the parish community Randy looked at the strength in numbers that was possible with a larger congregation and decided ‘we can be doing more than just collecting jars of peanut butter’.
Jensen and others have been telling the ongoing story of food insecurity by sharing data about what people are experiencing in their neighborhood and keeping the focus on the larger impact DMARC’s purchasing power as a warehouse provides.
The parish community has now raised over $25,000 of support for the DMARC Food Pantry Network in 2024 using the online campaign. The online microsite has been a game changer in telling the story of who DMARC is and how we make an impact.
“The story of the need is so easy to convey to the parishioners because you are already feeding it to us. The DMARC voice is loud, clear and present.”
Randy Jensen, DMARC
