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.
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Please plan ahead as the holiday will affect most pantry locations. For more information about food and other general assistance, call 2-1-1.Â
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 PantryÂ...
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 ...
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 ...
Did Lawmakers Forget About Food Insecurity This Session?
By Luke Elzinga | DMARC Policy and Advocacy Manager
The Iowa legislative session has drawn to a close. Unfortunately, we saw little action to address hunger and food insecurity from our state government, despite several bipartisan legislative proposals. This is especially concerning when food banks, food pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations are facing record-breaking need across the state.
Thankfully, with the help of our partners and advocates like you, we stopped harmful legislation, including efforts to create additional administrative hurdles to ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
