DMARC Mobile Food Pantry Launches at Orchard Place – PACE
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) is launching a new mobile food pantry location at Orchard Place – PACE on Monday, July 18. The DMARC mobile food pantry will be on location at Orchard Place – PACE, 620 8th Street in downtown Des Moines, every first and third Monday of the month from 2:00-3:30pm.
“Our home- and community-based programs serve 3,000 children and families per year, many of whom receive Medicaid. Our providers witness the scarcity of food in homes and the parental fears of if or how they’ll feed their family each night,” said Sonni ...
Statement on the Shooting at Cornerstone Church of Ames
Last night, a gunman killed two young women in the parking lot of Cornerstone Church in Ames before taking his own life. We are saddened and outraged to see yet another instance of people being killed at their sacred place of worship. DMARC stands in solidarity with the families and friends of those killed, Cornerstone Church, the student body of Iowa State University, and the Ames community and we mourn the loss of those killed.
Yesterday’s tragic act of violence follows a multitude of shootings in recent weeks. On Wednesday, four people were killed by a gunman at a ...
DMARC Sees Substantial Increase in Use at Food Pantries
The DMARC Food Pantry Network saw a 39% increase in use in April 2022 compared to April 2021. DMARC’s network of 14 partner food pantries and mobile food pantry program assisted a total of 14,294 individuals this April. The trend has continued into the month of May, and May 3 was the single busiest day of DMARC's Food Pantry Network so far in 2022.
DMARC Food Pantry Network Usage Report - April 2022
The DMARC Food Pantry Network saw a 39% increase in use in April 2022
DMARC attributes much of this increase to the end of additional benefits from the ...
‘Spring Greens’ Raises Over $100,000 for DMARC
DMARC’s 4th annual signature event, Spring Greens, held May 12th at the Scottish Rite Consistory, raised over $121,000 in support of its mission to meet basic human needs in the greater Des Moines area.
The event celebrated DMARC’s 70th anniversary and was supported through the generosity of corporate and individual supporters and over 200 people who attended, purchased tickets and participated in a live (new) and silent auction. Special thanks to Matt Strawn, DMARC Board member and CEO of the Iowa Lottery who served as the event emcee and Micah Kiel, ...
DMARC Launches Data Visualization Dashboard for the Public
DMARC has launched a publicly-accessible data visualization dashboard for its Food Pantry Network. The data visualization dashboard is now live and can be accessed at data.dmarcunited.org.
DMARC has been utilizing an internal data visualization dashboard since 2017, but the dashboard has been housed on a limited number of DMARC computers due to privacy concerns. The new public-facing dashboard aims to provide similar data in a way that protects the privacy of people who use the Food Pantry Network.
“DMARC’s data visualization dashboard paints a stark picture ...
DMARC Holds Second Storytellers Roundtable on Hunger and Food Insecurity
DMARC held its second Storytellers Roundtable on Hunger and Food Insecurity on Saturday, February 26, at Central Library in downtown Des Moines. 10 participants joined DMARC to share about their own experiences with hunger and food insecurity.
Some common themes and beliefs that were shared by the group included:
Many people have medical reasons that keep them from working, either mental or physical, both acquired and innate. Some participants expressed that they wish they could work, but can't.
A general sense of despair, feeling looked down on, exploited, ...
Attacks on Public Assistance Programs are Offensive and Wrong
By Matt Unger, Chief Executive Officer, DMARC
For 70 years, the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) has been bringing people together from across the religious spectrum to meet basic human needs for Greater Des Moines. One thing that people of all faith backgrounds can agree on is the need to feed our neighbors who are facing hunger and food insecurity. The DMARC Food Pantry Network assists tens of thousands of people in our community with healthy food, and we know our work is most effective when paired with strong state and federal programs.
Additional ...
DMARC Statement on Hostage Situation at Congregation Beth Israel
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) stands with the Jewish community of Colleyville, Texas, and with the wider Jewish community of Greater Des Moines, the state of Iowa, and the world. While we are relieved that all four hostages were physically unharmed, Saturday’s hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel is just the latest example of the rising levels of antisemitism our nation is experiencing. No one should feel unsafe in practicing their faith or attending a house of worship.
DMARC condemns all acts of religious hatred and violence. From slurs and ...
DMARC Statement on Bomb Threat at Burns United Methodist Church
This weekend, DMARC was saddened to learn about the bomb threat directed at Burns United Methodist Church, a Historically Black Church that has been a part of our community for over 150 years. This threat is not one that should be taken lightly. Throughout our nation’s history, Black churches have been the targets of racist intimidation and violence through bombings, arsons, and shootings. And as we have seen, these threats continue to this very day. It is imperative that we call out racism and religious bigotry whenever and wherever we witness them, and refuse these ...
Opportunities
by Tara Leigh Kramer. A shorter version of this article first appeared in the Nov/Dec/Jan 2021-2022 issue of The Voice.
One definition of the word "opportunity" is "a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something."
I fell ill, and my symptoms became profound. I lost the ability to eat and digest food properly. The malnourishment and weight loss changed my appearance drastically. My brain wasn't functioning the way it had before. I was confused by everything and lost the ability to communicate.
I lost the ability to advocate for myself, and nobody I ...
