DMARC Food Pantry Network Breaks Single-Day Record of Individuals Assisted

The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network has set an all-time record for the number of individuals assisted in a single day. On Tuesday, November 1, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 1,530 individuals. The previous record was set on September 3, 2019, when 1,476 individuals were assisted in a single day.

“While we were anticipating we would break our single-day record at the start of November, actually seeing it happen is still jarring,” said DMARC CEO Matt Unger. “We fully expect that November 2022 will be the single busiest month in the 46-year history of the DMARC Food Pantry Network.”

The DMARC Food Pantry Network has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking assistance at food pantries. Along with rising costs for food, gasoline, and other essential goods, DMARC points to a decrease in benefit amounts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that occurred in April as one of the contributing factors of the increased need.

In October, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 19,385 individuals, an increase of 63% over October 2021. 1,844 of those pantry visitors used the DMARC Food Pantry Network for the first time ever. So far in 2022, DMARC has assisted over 13,500 first-time food pantry visitors.

October Food Pantry Network Report (PDF)

“We are heading into our absolute busiest season for food pantries, and we need your help to continue meeting this need,” said Unger. “Please consider donating funds, food, or volunteer time to DMARC and our partner food pantries.”

The DMARC Food Pantry Network consists of 15 partner food pantries, multiple mobile food pantry locations across Greater Des Moines, and a home delivery service. DMARC’s partner pantries include Bidwell Riverside Center, Caring Hands Eastview Food Pantry, Catholic Charities Outreach Center, Central Iowa Shelter & Services, Clive Community Services, DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry, IMPACT Community Action Partnership – Drake Neighborhood, IMPACT Community Action Partnership – Ankeny, Johnston Partnership Place, Polk County Northside Food Pantry, Polk County River Place Food Pantry, Salvation Army Citadel, Salvation Army Temple, Urbandale Food Pantry, and West Des Moines Human Services.