44 results for author: Blake Willadsen

Pantry Closures: Independence Day

DMARC would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day Celebration. The DMARC-Ket Southside Food Pantry will be closed Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.   Please plan ahead as the holiday will affect most pantry locations. For more information about food and other general assistance, call 2-1-1.  Location Closed Catholic Charities Thursday,July 4 Caring Hands Eastview Thursday,July 4 Clive Community Services Thursday,July 4 Friday, July 5 DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry  Thursday,July 4 Families Forward - Bidwell Pantry Thursday,July 4 ...

What you need to know about summer meal sites

Summer is officially here! For some, the end of the school year introduces challenges around a new routine - especially when it comes to summer meals. As the rates of food insecurity grow in our community, so do the number of school-age children affected. This week, summer meal sites will began to open in the Des Moines metro and across the nation, providing a regular and reliable place for a free lunch (and sometimes breakfast) for school age children. What is a Summer Meal Site? Summer meal sites (also known as SUN Meals), offer kids of all ages meals and snacks during the summer at no cost at schools, parks, and other neighborhood ...

Schools out: Summer begins with busiest day on record

Just a couple of days after the close of the 2024 school year, The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 2,080 unique individuals on Tuesday, Jun. 4, 2024 - setting a single-day record of people assisted. This marks the first time in the nearly 50-year history of the DMARC Food Pantry Network that the number of unique individuals assisted in one day ever exceeded 2000 being driven in part by an increase in the number of minors being assisted. In June so far, 36.7 percent of everyone receiving food assistance has been a minor (0-17 years of age). The DMARC Food Pantry Network has now seen the 1st and 3rd busiest days ...

Doug Woods Memorial Hunger Challenge

Every single person has the opportunity to make a positive difference in their community. Doug Woods was one such person who found delight in giving and made a lasting difference in his community. This March (March 1 – 31), take the challenge for the 12th annual Douglas M. Woods Hunger Challenge. Your gift will be matched! The Douglas M. Woods Memorial Hunger Challenge is sponsored by the family of Mr. Woods and an anonymous donor.  DMARC is grateful for their continued support. DMARC will forever be inspired by and grateful for his spirit of generosity. Although Doug would not say this, his life was one of service. He served his country ...

Rising to meet the need

Becky Whitlow, Director of the DMARC Food Pantry Network describes herself as a bargain hunter. As the primary wholesale purchase for the network of 14 food pantry partners, mobile food pantry sites, and food delivery program, Whitlow has had her hands full. She finds herself spending almost two hours a day shopping around to keep our food costs low while maintaining the same quality options. “Before the pandemic I was pretty much able to go to just 2-3 sources and get pretty much everything I needed at a reasonable price. Now I have to work a little harder at it. I’ve started working with 3-4 additional wholesalers in the last year to shop ...

Over 140 Faith Leaders call for action on Summer EBT

Re: Iowa Interfaith Leaders - feeding hungry children this summer the right thing to do Dear Governor Reynolds, Lt. Governor Gregg, and Director Garcia, Feeding the poor is a universal value shared by all major faith traditions and all cultures – this is especially true when it comes to feeding children. These are the words shared in the summer of 2023 when faith leaders from across our state appealed to your offices to enroll in the Summer Pandemic EBT program. These words are still true now as we plead with you once again: please change course on your December 22nd statement that Iowa will not participate in the 2024 Summer EBT Progra...

5 ways you left your mark in 2023

2023 will go down as the busiest year of all-time at the DMARC Food Pantry Network. Even with the challenges that this year has brought, we are incredibly grateful for your support as we've risen to meet this emergency need in our community. 1) Your support helped us reach new heights! Whether it was giving your time, talent or treasure, you stepped up to help us meet this unprecedented moment. Countless groups held food and fund drives throughout the year. This year's Spring Greens raised over $150,000 in support of DMARC’s mission.  552 new volunteers helped out in 2023 to help us meet the record need. In fact, all volunteer contributions for ...

Holiday Closures for the DMARC Food Pantry Network

DMARC would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Please be aware of upcoming holiday closures at all food pantry sites. DMARC's office, warehouse, and the DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry will be closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, resuming operations Jan 2, 2024. The 2023-2024 holiday hours for the entire DMARC Food Pantry Network can be found below.   * The Families Forward Bidwell Pantry will also be closed Wednesday, Jan. 3.

Meet Rebeka

The relationship between homelessness and food pantry usage is not new phenomenon. Rebeka S. appreciates the option for mobile and permanent pantries. She's used both as a resource to help handicapped relatives and grab food while being unhoused in the winter months.

Meet Debra

Debra G. pulls up to the Families First – Bidwell Pantry on one of the first bitter cold days of the fall. She is grateful that today is a good day for her health, but getting to the pantry isn’t always realistic. I've had five major surgeries. I wasn't supposed to take a step in my life. But guess what? By the grace of god I'm walking!. Debra was born prematurely in the 1960's and wasn't supposed to survive more than a couple weeks. She has had five major surgeries and her mobility issues were complicated even further by a major car accident in the 1990's. She appreciates the ease of access the DMARC food delivery service provides on days when ...