Recovering Food for All in Need
DMARC has a plethora of ways to get food for our mobile and partner food pantries.
While we do distribute food that is donated to us by individuals, most of our food is purchased with donated funds. As a matter of fact, we can stretch a dollar significantly further, when it comes to purchasing food items, than an individual purchasing food at the grocery store. This is not to say that we don’t appreciate food donations, but rather that monetary donations go much further.
One way we receive food items that isn’t as well known is through our food recovery program. ...
Different Users, Same Results
Near the end of 2017, the food pantry at West Des Moines Human Services implemented a new "food pantry 2.0" system. Rather than a set number of food items families may receive per month, pantry visitors at West Des Moines Human Services are given a number of points to spend on their items. Healthy food choices are given lower point values, providing the opportunity for people to get more food if they select healthier options. The new system also allows visitors to come multiple times throughout the month to use their pantry points.
Jenn Danielson, Vicky Arroyo, Dawt ...
Lasting Impacts from the Government Shutdown
Last Friday, the longest government shutdown in US history finally came to an end. But there are still some lasting impacts for the DMARC Food Pantry Network.
As a result of the shutdown, the USDA directed states to send out February's SNAP benefits early, no later than January 20. In Iowa, February's SNAP benefits were distributed on January 17.
DMARC will likely see less food pantry use at the end of January, as SNAP participants have benefits to spend on groceries. However, as we move later in to February, we expect more people will turn to the DMARC Food Pantry ...
DMARC Mobile Food Pantry Launches Four New Sites
Next week, the DMARC Mobile Food Pantry will visit four new mobile pantry partner locations throughout Greater Des Moines. Times and locations for the new DMARC Mobile Food Pantry sites are as follows:
Beginning Monday, January 21, the DMARC Mobile Food Pantry will visit Park View Village, 1900 SE 28th Street, Grimes, IA 50111, every first and third Monday of the month from 4-6pm.
Beginning Tuesday, January 22, the DMARC Mobile Food Pantry will visit Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Parish, 1271 E 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50316, every second and fourth Tuesday ...
Mobilizing to Meet the Need
This article originally appeared in the Nov/Dec/Jan 2018-19 issue of The Voice.
On Wednesday, October 3, The Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County dedicated two new mobile food pantries at the Ellis I. Levitt Boys & Girls Club at Carver Elementary in Des Moines.
The two new mobile food pantries were made possible thanks to the generosity of Gregory and Suzie Glazer Burt, Charlotte and Fred Hubbell, Variety-the Children's Charity, and The Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County.
The additional mobile food pantries will allow DMARC to reach more locations at a ...
Mobile Food Pantry Launches at Oakridge Neighborhood
On Monday, August 20, the DMARC Mobile Food Pantry was on-site at the Oakridge Neighborhood near the basketball courts from 12:00-2:00pm. The Mobile Food Pantry will be there at the same time every third and fourth Monday of the month. Oakridge Neighborhood is located just north of Unity Point/Methodist Hospital on the northeast corner of Center and Crocker Streets.
"Hunger happens 365 days of the year, and it happens for thousands of individuals right here in Polk County," said Oakridge Neighborhood CEO Teree Caldwell-Johnson. "This Oakridge and DMARC partnership will ...
DMARC Mobile Food Pantry Responds to Flooding
At the beginning of this month the DMARC Mobile Food Pantry was tasked with something that had never been asked of it before.
As many are aware the Des Moines area experienced historic flooding at the beginning of July, and for the first time DMARC’s Mobile Food Pantry was called in for flood victim relief efforts. It is the first time that the mobile food pantry has been called to respond to any sort of natural disaster by the local government according to Joe Dolack, the Mobile Food Pantry Manager.
And Dolack would know, as he’s been running the mobile food ...
DMARC Awarded Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network recently received a Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant of $10,000. The grant will allow DMARC to provide more than 17,200 healthy and nutritious meals, or the equivalent of a three-day supply of food for 1,800 hungry Iowans.
“At a time when the state of Iowa ranks 50th in the nation for consumption of fresh produce, it is imperative that we provide healthy, nutritious food for those who need it most,” said DMARC executive director Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice. “We thank Prairie Meadows for ...
DMARC Announces Commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) has announced a commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to continue its innovative work on incentivizing healthy food choices through the DMARC Food Pantry Network.
“The Partnership for a Healthier America is excited to team up with the Des Moines Area Religious Council’s Food Pantry Network to explore innovative ways of incentivizing healthy eating at food pantries,” said Larry Soler, President and CEO of the Partnership for a Healthier America. “By partnering with local organizations like DMARC, ...
Holiday Food Pantry Hours
The following is a list of holiday food pantry hours. If you have any questions, or would like to update a listing, please contact DMARC Communications Manager Luke Elzinga.
Friday, December 23, 2016
DMARC Office and Warehouse
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Impact Community Action Partnership (Ankeny)
Closed
Clive Community Services
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bidwell-Riverside Center
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Central Iowa Shelter & Services
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Drake Area Food Pantry
Closed
Polk County River Place Food Pantry
Closed
...