220 results for author: lelzinga

A Look at the First Month of the Mobile Food Pantry

The DMARC Mobile Food Pantry began operation on July 6, 2016. In the first month, the Mobile Food Pantry served 226 households and a total of 548 individuals. A full 59% of visitors to the Mobile Food Pantry were new to the DMARC Food Pantry Network database system. In July, the Mobile Food Pantry registered 3.7% of the entire DMARC Network volume, serving the equivalent amount of people as a mid-size food pantry. What does this tell us? We're serving more people in more places, and reaching populations who previously did not have access to a food pantry in their neighborhood. July 2016 Food Pantry Network Usage The DMARC Food Pantry ...

Commemorating 40 Years of Food Assistance

By Luke Elzinga, Communications Manager This article first appeared in the May/Jun/Jul 2016 issue of The Voice. In May, 1976, the call went out to congregations across Greater Des Moines: we need your help to end local hunger. Many aspects of our work have changed over the past 40 years, but our mission remains the same. We are still dedicated to ending hunger in our community, and we still rely on our member congregations to help us do so. As we mark our 40th year of food assistance work, DMARC would like to thank the countless volunteers and donors who have made this work possible. The DMARC Food Pantry Network would not be able to function ...

Fleet Feet Sports Hosts ‘Run Your Can Off’ Relay Race

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Fleet Feet Sports in the East Village hosted the first-ever "Run Your Can Off" relay race and food drive. The race began at the Fleet Feet Sports location at 521 E Locust in the East Village. From there, runners ran down E 6th 1.5 miles to B&B Grocery & Deli. Runners then purchased food items to donate to the Red Barrel back at Fleet Feet. Runners earned time off their total run for each food item they brought back with them. The event brought in 165 food items to the DMARC Food Pantry Network, plus some personal items and a cash donation. The winners of the race each received a free pair of ...

Changes in the DMARC Food Pantry Network

There are some recent and upcoming changes in the DMARC Food Pantry Network. IMPACT Community Action Partnership is moving to new locations at both their Des Moines and Ankeny branches, and CROSS Ministries will also be moving to a new location. IMPACT Food Pantries IMPACT Community Action Partnership is on the move, both at their Des Moines and Ankeny locations. The IMPACT office at 1816 6th Avenue in Des Moines will be moving to a new location by Drake University, 3226 University Avenue. The 6th Avenue site's last day of operation will be April 1, and the new location on University Avenue will be opening on April 4. The IMPACT site in Ankeny ...

Yaakov Ariel Presents at David Bear Memorial Lecture

The 5th Annual David Bear Memorial Interfaith Lecture Series featured Yaakov Ariel, author or "An Unusual Relationship: Evangelical Christians and Jews" and Professor of Religious Studies at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. It was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines. Dr. Yaakov Ariel provided a comprehensive picture of the unusual relationship that has developed between evangelical Christians and Jews. He explored the theological roots of the evangelical attitudes, pointed to the historical development of the interaction between the two communities of faith, and examined the actual manifestat...

Fresh Produce, Central Iowa and the Well-Being Index

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015, the United Way of Central Iowa hosted the Central Iowa Well-Being Forum at Des Moines University. The keynote speaker for the event was Dan Witters, Research Director for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Mr. Witters talked about how the Well-Being Index (WBI) is calculated, showed some national trends and regional examples, and then turned his focus to the Well-Being Index of the Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index is comprised of five interrelated and interdependent elements: Overall, the State of Iowa is ranked 16th in the Well-Being Index. Iowa ranks in the ...

DMARC Food Pantry Network Responds to Explosive Growth

Cuts Food Given per Family by 25% The DMARC Food Pantry Network is announcing it has made changes to the amount of food clients are able to receive each month, effective August 1, 2015. Currently, individuals and families can receive a four-day supply of healthy food once a month. Beginning in August, however, this monthly allotment will be reduced to a three-day supply of food, a decrease of 25%. The reason for this reduction has to do with the large increase in the number of families and individuals seeking food assistance. June set new usage records, with the DMARC Food Pantry Network serving 5,652 families comprising 14,785 individuals. ...

June Sees Record Food Pantry Use

The numbers are in, and they are substantial. The DMARC Food Pantry Network served a total of 5,652 families, comprising 14,785 individuals, in the month of June 2015- new all-time record highs in both categories. This translates to respective increases of 27.0% and 21.3%, compared to the month of June 2014. In addition, DMARC served 424 families who said they have never had to use a food pantry before. What exactly is the cause of this huge increase in use for the DMARC Food Pantry Network? “The summer months are always a challenge for us – children are out of school and needing to eat at home while at the same time donors are out of ...

Red Barrel Program Celebrates 25 Years

25 years ago on this day (April 18, 1990), DMARC's Red Barrel Program was officially launched. Today, DMARC celebrates the lasting success of this program by inviting volunteers and partners to our Red Barrel Program 25th Birthday Celebration on Thursday, May 14, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Hans Peterson Concert Inspires

On Friday, March 13, 2015, Singer/Songwriter Hans Peterson held a CD release show for his new album, Every Breath I Sing. The concert was held at Java Joes CoffeeHouse in Des Moines. Hans was accompanied by fellow Minnesotan Linda Breitag on fiddle and vocals. Hans' songs follow the themes of family, Midwestern life and storytelling, and are influenced by his Nordic heritage. Originally born in an Alaskan village, Hans Peterson now lives in Minnesota on in Mother-in-law's former dairy farm. He and his wife, Heidi, live there with their two boys and various farm animals. When Hans is not weeding the garden or chasing sheep, he teaches music and ...