Staff

As the DMARC executive director since 2008, Rev. Rice brings 15 years of non-profit executive experience. Sarai has led program, organization, and budget development that have positioned DMARC to respond to the 130% growth in the number of families accessing DMARC’s human services programs in the past six years. In addition to providing oversight for the 1435 Mulberry Initiative, Ms. Rice has served as a member of the Food Access and Health Work Group, Iowa Food Policy Council, and the Ethics Committee, Hospice of Central Iowa since 2009. Sarai was a founding member of the Polk County Homeless Coordinating Council and she continues to serve in this capacity.

Sarai’s educational background includes a master’s in Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northeast Missouri State University.

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DMARC Food Pantry Network Director since 2012, Ms. Whitlow has over 20 years experience in product merchandising, warehouse operations and distribution of hard goods. She brings substantial skills in inventory and quality controls and expedited transportation and staffing methods that result in cost containment. An expert in building community collaborations and customer relationships, Becky has experience managing $500,000-$1.5 million in product inventory, purchasing, and redistribution operations, and has been instrumental in the design of the new warehouse facility.

With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Marketing and a Sociology minor, she oversees the daily operations of a 12-site food pantry network distribution system serving 34,000 consumers annually, and will be invaluable to the growth of the system. Becky is a gifted speaker and regularly presents to faith, civic and student groups about food access needs in Greater Des Moines, and the work of the food pantry network.

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Joe Dolack works full-time as the Mobile Food Pantry Manager. You will find you out at one of the many mobile pantry sites serving clients in need. With the mobile pantry Joe crisscrosses the metro area taking the pantry to food insecure areas of greater Polk County.

Joe joined the DMARC team in April 2013, and is a Chicagoland native who moved to the Des Moines in June 2012. Joe previously studied criminal justice in Illinois. In Joe’s time away you can normally find him volunteering in the community or spending time with friends. Joe enjoys hiking and camping, or just being outside.

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Luke Elzinga joined DMARC in April of 2014. As Communications Manager, he writes, edits and designs The Voice, creates and distributes the eVoice, designs and maintains dmarcunited.org, takes photos at events, produces videos, manages social media, designs print pieces and graphics, and other communications tasks.

Luke attended Iowa State University, where he earned his BA in Advertising. After graduating, he served a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Montana Legal Services Association in Helena, Montana. Luke currently serves as the Marketing Chair of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network’s Des Moines chapter.

In his free time, Luke enjoys reading, documentary films, coffee, progressive politics and social justice, and working on video projects with his friends.

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Ms. Vander Hart has always lived in Iowa and studied business and accounting at DMACC and Iowa State. She started with DMARC in July of 2013. Linda has worked in accounting and office management in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years, and enjoys using her skills and experience to help our organization grow and fulfill its mission.

Linda and her husband, Dan, have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Linda’s leisure time is spent reading, going to grandchildren’s sport events and movies, and spending time with family and friends.

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Originally from Harrisburg, Penn., John is an alumnus of Drake University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He’s been employed by WHO-TV, the Science Center of Iowa, and Cinequipt, a Minnesota-based film and video production rental house.

As a professional actor, he is a founding member and ensemble player with the Repertory Theater of Iowa. (Find him in the family-friendly movie, SMITTY, starring Mira Sorvino and Peter Fonda.) John began as a food pantry warehouse assistant in 2011, and now serves as coordinator for the Red Barrel program as well as various food drives and other special events.

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Ms. Larson joined DMARC in August 2012, as a development associate and currently manages the DMARC database. She provides support in gifts management and grant reporting. She brings experience as a small business owner and operator, project/program manager, and educator of adults and children.

Pam and her husband, Bob, moved to Des Moines from Lawrence, Kansas, over 25 years ago. They enjoy staying connected with their three adult children and four grandchildren, canoeing and college basketball.

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Drew joined DMARC in November 2013. His responsibilities include warehouse inventory control, directing volunteer groups, and pulling food orders for food pantry partners.

Drew graduated from Ankeny High School (Ankeny, IA) and attended Des Moines Area Community College studying accounting and business administration. In Drew’s free time he enjoys traveling, attending concerts and sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.

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