44 results for author: Blake Willadsen
DMARC Food Pantry Network sees busiest month of all time in November
26,469 unique individuals were assisted by The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network during the month of November, becoming the busiest month in the 47-year history of the network by a significant margin. This exceeds the previous all-time record set in August 2023 by 22 percent.
This concerning rise in traffic is highlighted by the total number of pantry visits exceeding 30,000 for the first time (30,288 pantry services and repeat services).
During this time, DMARC assisted a record 2,292 new individuals and follows a continued rise in people seeking out a pantry for the first time that dates back nearly a ...
The faces behind a record year
On a particularly sunny afternoon, Heather N. walks into the Urbandale Food Pantry with her son. It’s the beginning of the month and with the holidays right around the corner, she is excited to shop for some items that will fill the table when she hosts Thanksgiving dinner.
“Our family has been coming here for quite a few years but recently we’ve been here more often. We couldn’t make it through the month without this service and we appreciate it so much,” Heather said. “Everything has gone up so much. Our property taxes went up $160/month. This extra food makes all the difference for us.”
She and her husband have five children and ...
Host a Drive
Whether at home, in your workplace, or at your faith community, supporting the DMARC Food Pantry Network can be a fun way to bring people together around a common goal to fight food insecurity.
Help us set the table this holiday season...
How to get started
During our busiest time of the year, your support makes a difference for the thousands of metro neighbors visiting a food pantry this holiday season. Here are some tips to making your drive a success.
Jack’s Story
My name is Jack Bell. Like you, I support DMARC.
Why? I was recently asked that question. Let me explain.
When I was in Maryland, I was deeply involved with a food recovery and redistribution organization called Nourish Now. We started out around 2012 with modest means, recovering and redistributing food to around 3-5 families per week. By the time COVID hit, we were well-placed within the county and began serving upwards of 12,000 people per week. I was there 8 years and that essentially became my full-time job. I was immersed into the world of food insecurity.
When I returned home to Iowa, I decided to re-start my local nonprofit “due ...
From farm to Food Pantry
The Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines has become a staple of Iowa food, arts, and culture since its humble beginnings decades ago. With thousands of market-goers and hundreds of vendors…have you ever wondered what happens to the food that doesn’t get purchased?
The ‘Meals From the Market’ program aims to address that very question. The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network partners with the market to ensure that food that is safe to eat makes it to people facing food insecurity in our neck of the woods. Just this year the program has provided 31,010 lbs of food ...
Read the ‘Portrait of a Pantry Visitor’ Report
Portrait of a Food Pantry Visitor:
Data, Demographics, and disparities
This report aims to highlight current disparities among food pantry visitors related to race and ethnicity, gender, and age. It is our hope that this report will inform the public and policymakers about these disparities, why they exist, and potential ways we can remedy them in our community, as it is critical to understand the ways in which previous inequitable policies influence, and often negatively impact, people’s current realities today.
3 Ways to Scare Away Hunger this Halloween season
Looking forward to frights and fun this Halloween season? As you plan ahead for your tricks and treats, don’t forget about all the ways you can help fight hunger along the way.
Hold a 'trunk or treat' event and include a food drive
'Trick or Treat' for DMARC
Save the Date:
Join Save the Children Action Network and DMARC as we bring advocates from across the state of Iowa for the 2023 Iowa State Advocacy Summit on Saturday, October 28, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
What is the Advocacy Summit?
The Iowa State Advocacy Summit is an annual event that brings together advocates from across the state for a tailored experience that includes ...
Save the Date – Fighting hunger shouldn’t be scary…
Join Save the Children Action Network and DMARC as we bring advocates from across the state of Iowa for the 2023 Iowa State Advocacy Summit on Saturday, October 28, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
What is the Advocacy Summit?
The Iowa State Advocacy Summit is an annual event that brings together advocates from across the state for a tailored experience that includes special speakers, expert panels, fun team building activities, and skills trainings. This year, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) and Des Moines Area Religious Council are teaming up to help anti-hunger and early learning advocates level-up their skills to be a strong presence in the ...
What you need to know about P-EBT
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that food assistance will be available through a program called Summer Pandemic EBT food benefits in the coming weeks. Programs that provide food assistance with minimal barriers are key to addressing food insecurity for families and DMARC applauds the efforts of advocates who helped make these funds a possibility for the children of Iowa.
Benefits are being issued to eligible school-age children through an EBT card starting this week with cards hitting mailboxes by Oct. 4. This program provides $120/child to households that have school-age children receiving free and reduced ...