Unique Individuals Assisted (2017-Present)

The DMARC Food Pantry Network has seen a consistent rise in usage since early 2022, as the ending of pandemic era benefits, record inflation, and growing cost of living have forced more and more people to seek out a food pantry for the first time.


Last Year at a glance…

ZCTA overall CY2024

2024 overview

  • Busiest 12-month period on record.
  • 46% of all who were assisted utilized a food pantry just once or twice.
  • 4% utilized the DMARC Food Pantry for all 12 months.
  • 29,592 households were assisted

75,519

unique individuals assisted

15% increase from 2023

338,910

Total pantry services (includes repeat visits)

1 IN 4

Des Moines residents utilized the DMARC Food Pantry Network

1 in 3

people assisted were doing so for the first time in 2024.

1,188

people assisted on an average day.

November demographics
Children (0-17 years old)35%
Adults (18-64), working or disabled34%
Adults (18-64), unemployed23%
seniors (65 or older)8%
77% of everyone utilizing a DMARC pantry was unemployed, disabled, a senior citizen, or a child.