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. ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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.

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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.      

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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 ...

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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.

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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 ...

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