Staff Spotlight: Monica Curl

Get to know DMARC Development & Outreach Associate Monica Curl!

What drew you to DMARC originally, and how has it changed since then?
Just out of college I chose to become an AmeriCorps VISTA and as a VISTA I worked with three different organizations and DMARC was one of them. As a VISTA I completed in person interviews with people using the food pantries. I was impressed that DMARC was asking questions about what the pantry clients would like in a pantry and that they also worked to provide healthy food. I turned down another career path and when looking of a volunteer opening I saw an open position and decided to “return” to DMARC. I am still drawn by the work DMARC does to not only provide food but healthy food to those that are food insecure and all the advocacy work that we do as well.

What do you like most about working at DMARC?
That the work that DMARC does correlates so directly with our mission: working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community. We might be a small team but I feel like we all come together to serve others.

What is your proudest moment at DMARC?
I helped implement a better way to track all the donations we were getting in by our fiscal year which made pulling reports of progress much easier than before so we can better track the funds we are getting in to support the food pantry network.

What’s a fun fact about yourself that others might not be aware of?
When I studied abroad in London, England my residence was only a few blocks away from Buckingham Palace.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can play steel drums. I played in college and while I don’t own a drum I can still play a few tunes.

Before working at DMARC, what’s the most interesting job you’ve ever had?
I manufactured window sills as a summer job at Pella Corporation on the second shift.

Where is your favorite place in the world to be?
I love to travel and have been fortunate enough to have gone many places. I think however my favorite place is wherever I am with family. If I had to pick one place that I absolutely loved was Hawaii. The beaches and snorkeling are great and the lava fields are fascinating to me.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a teacher.

If you could use one famous movie line to describe yourself, what would it be?
“Just keep swimming.” -Finding Nemo. Life has its up and downs but you “just have to keep swimming” and enjoy life.