DMARC Food Pantry Network Assists 20,000+ in July
The DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 20,156 individuals in the month of July 2019, an increase of 13.8% compared to July of last year.
This past July was the third highest overall month of pantry use in the DMARC Food Pantry Network’s 43-year history, behind November 2017 (21,108 individuals) and November 2018 (20,880 individuals). July also had the distinction of being the first month that was not a November where DMARC assisted over 20,000 individuals.
While there are a number of factors that may have impacted the amount of food pantry use we saw in July (continued trade uncertainty, a report that some Iowans did not receive their SNAP benefits last month due to a “printer error,” increased food pantry use during summer months as children are out of school), ultimately, the increase we saw is not completely out of the ordinary.
Instead, our food pantry use in July 2019 followed our general trend of increased pantry use, though to a somewhat greater degree than we anticipated. July is typically a month of high food pantry use, and in the past few years has also been a month of increasing use – last July saw an increase of 11.6%, for example.
Another reason for the high volume of people assisted in July is the simple fact that we are assisting more people in our community. In fiscal year 2018-2019 (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019), we assisted 53,782 unique individuals in Greater Des Moines. Just four years prior, in fiscal year 2014-2015, we assisted 34,123 unique individuals. So while we have seen a decrease in the average number of times people use a pantry in a year, we are assisting a much larger population of people using the food pantry.
Without generous support of the community and individuals like you, we could not meet the nutrition needs we do through our Food Pantry Network.
With August’s numbers trending to match July, we thank you for your continued support that makes serving those in need possible. We could not do it without you.
P.S. Looking for a fun way to support DMARC? Celebrate Iowa’s biggest rivalry while supporting our work by hosting a competitive drive for DMARC!
DMARC Statement on "Public Charge" Final Rule |
August 23, 2019 (9:23 am)
[…] nonprofits and charities can expect to see increasing requests for assistance. DMARC is already seeing record use of our Food Pantry Network, and the emergency food system will struggle with continued additional increases. Should this rule […]