DMARC Assists Over 55,000 People in 2019
Food Pantry Use in December
In December 2019, 19,613 people used a DMARC food pantry, an 11.6% increase in use compared to December 2018.
Food Pantry Use Continues to Increase
In calendar year 2019, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 55,745 unique individuals comprising 23,820 unique households through its network of 14 partner food pantries and dozens of Mobile Food Pantry sites. Of the top five overall months of use in the history of the DMARC Food Pantry Network, three of them occurred in 2019 (July, October, November).
The DMARC Food Pantry Network ...
Staff Spotlight: Leslie Garman
Leslie Garman joined DMARC’s team as Director of Development & Outreach in May of 2017. Today she leads all fundraising and outreach efforts with the support of DMARC’s development staff and volunteer team.
Leslie brings a wealth of fund development, communications, special event, and volunteer organization experience to the role, having worked with several nonprofit organizations representing the social service, health and cultural sectors, including: Employee & Family Resources (EFR), the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa, Junior League of Des Moines, the United ...
DMARC Food Pantry Network Holiday Schedule
This holiday season, we will be providing extra time for staff to spend with family and friends. The DMARC office and warehouse will close at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 24, and will re-open the morning of Monday, December 30. We will also be closed January 1, 2020.
All DMARC Mobile Food Pantry sites will be closed December 24-28, December 31, and January 1, 2020.
Holiday hours for DMARC partner food pantries are below, or you can download a flyer here.
DMARC Assists Record Number of People in November
This November, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 22,632 individuals, setting a new record number of people assisted in a single month by the organization. It was also the first time DMARC assisted over 9,000 households in a single month.
Staff Spotlight: Joe Dolack
Joe Dolack joined the DMARC team in April 2013, and as Operations Manager he oversees different programs within the DMARC Food Pantry Network. Joe helped build the Mobile Food Pantry Program from its infancy. The Mobile Food Pantry Program has more than double in size since 2016. Joe enjoys helping lead DMARC’s frontline programs.
Joe attended Westwood College and Lewis University studying Criminal Justice. Joe relocated to Des Moines in 2012. While never seeing himself as an Iowan in the past Joe is now a proud transplant, with deep roots in Iowa.
Joe enjoys being ...
Staff Spotlight: Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott
The Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott joined DMARC in August 2017 as the Coordinator of Interfaith Engagement. Sarah works with the diverse faith communities of the greater Des Moines area to support the mission of DMARC, while also creating resources and opportunities to support faith communities in their work. Sarah also partners with The Comparison Project at Drake University in their efforts for interfaith awareness, dialogue, and scholarship.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA working for Northern New Mexico Legal Aid in Gallup, New Mexico, Sarah engaged community and faith leaders ...
Competitive Drives Are a Touchdown for DMARC
Fall is in the air, and so is the spirit of friendly competition! Earlier this month, a dozen companies and organizations hosted competitive drives for the DMARC Food Pantry Network (including our staff here at DMARC). Some gave online through a virtual food drive, others held traditional drives, bringing in food items, diapers, personal care items, and period supplies.
Many companies incorporated a fund or food drive into other tailgating activities, and got creative with prizes for the winning teams and punishments for the losing teams. At DMARC, we hosted a chili ...
Staff Spotlight: John McPhee
If you've dropped off a food donation or volunteered at DMARC in the past year, there's a good chance you met John McPhee. As Warehouse Manager, John is responsible for managing warehouse inventory, operations and directing volunteer groups. John makes sure that everything in our warehouse runs smoothly and in an orderly fashion.
John graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Technical Education- Adult Learning. In John’s free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, traveling to state parks and watching sports.
What drew you to DMARC ...
Des Moines Area Hy-Vee Stores Donate Over $42,000 to DMARC Food Pantry Network
On Friday, September 9, 2019, Des Moines area Hy-Vee store directors stopped by DMARC's warehouse to present a donation of $42,940.28 to the DMARC Food Pantry Network. The stores participated in a companywide campaign earlier this year called "Feed the Need" to help replenish local food banks and pantries across Hy-Vee's eight-state region. Hy-Vee organized the effort when it became aware of the ongoing demand for products and supplies at food banks and pantries throughout the year, especially during non-holiday times of the year.
Customers participated by simply ...
Global Atlantic Financial Group Makes Big Impact Through Virtual Drive
Earlier this month, Global Atlantic Financial Group hosted a virtual drive for DMARC focused on raising funds to purchase diapers, wipes, infant formula, baby food, and period supplies. The drive was spearheaded by Global Atlantic Financial Group's Women's Network. One of the objectives of the Women's Network is to sponsor community outreach activities.
“Most state and federal safety-net program benefits cannot be used to purchase period supplies, leaving 1 in 4 menstruating people struggling to meet this basic need due to lack of income and 1 in 5 missing work or ...
