28 results for author: Blake Willadsen

3 Ways to Scare Away Hunger this Halloween season

Looking forward to frights and fun this Halloween season? As you plan ahead for your tricks and treats, don’t forget about all the ways you can help fight hunger along the way. Hold a 'trunk or treat' event and include a food drive 'Trick or Treat' for DMARC Save the Date: Join Save the Children Action Network and DMARC  as we bring advocates from across the state of Iowa for the 2023 Iowa State Advocacy Summit on Saturday, October 28, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. What is the Advocacy Summit? The Iowa State Advocacy Summit is an annual event that brings together advocates from across the state for a tailored experience that includes ...

Save the Date – Fighting hunger shouldn’t be scary…

Join Save the Children Action Network and DMARC  as we bring advocates from across the state of Iowa for the 2023 Iowa State Advocacy Summit on Saturday, October 28, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. What is the Advocacy Summit? The Iowa State Advocacy Summit is an annual event that brings together advocates from across the state for a tailored experience that includes special speakers, expert panels, fun team building activities, and skills trainings. This year, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) and Des Moines Area Religious Council are teaming up to help anti-hunger and early learning advocates level-up their skills to be a strong presence in the ...

What you need to know about P-EBT

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that food assistance will be available through a program called Summer Pandemic EBT food benefits in the coming weeks. Programs that provide food assistance with minimal barriers are key to addressing food insecurity for families and DMARC applauds the efforts of advocates who helped make these funds a possibility for the children of Iowa. Benefits are being issued to eligible school-age children through an EBT card starting this week with cards hitting mailboxes by Oct. 4. This program provides $120/child to households that have school-age children receiving free and reduced ...

DMARC Food Pantry Network sees busiest month of all time in August

The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 23,886 unique individuals during the month of August, becoming the highest monthly total in the 47-year history of the network. During the month, 23,886 individuals made 27,142 visits for monthly assistance – an 18 percent increase from August 2022. This exceeds the previous all-time record set in November 2019 of 22,632 unique individuals and caps an uneasy trend of growing food insecurity this summer. During this time, DMARC assisted an all-time record of 2,155 new individuals. “When you look at the added pressure that households are facing to afford basic needs ...

DMARC Remembers David Wolnerman

DMARC is greatly saddened to hear of the death of David Wolnerman, one of the last known Iowans who survived the Nazi concentration camps during the holocaust. During his years in the Des Moines Metro area, Mr. Wolnerman shared his story far and wide for the sake of educating and empowering Iowans to stand up against antisemitism. He was committed to efforts to build relationships across religious diversity, giving of his time and presence. When the Comparison Project at Drake University published A Spectrum of Faith: Religions of the World in America’s Heartland, he was pictured in prayer at Beth El Jacob Synagogue (photo above). Mr. Wolnerman ...

6 ways to make a difference during Hunger Action Month

As the DMARC Food Pantry Network continues to see more people than ever before, this September is a great time to find a way to help us fight hunger right in your own backyard. Every little bit counts… see if you can find a new way to get involved this month.  Become an anti-hunger advocate Hunger is affecting every neighborhood in the Des Moines Metro right now. Educating others about food insecurity is one of the best ways to encourage action and there are lots of ways to learn more. Read our latest publications, follow us on social media, and follow our latest advocacy efforts. You can encourage social groups you are a part of to support ...

Turning interfaith engagement Into understanding and action

 As you walk through the doors to Temple B'nai Jeshurun, immediately you are greeted by a table of literature on local charity resources, a table of food donation collections, and a bright red barrel adorning the classic DMARC Red Barrel stop sign – “Help STOP Hunger in our city”. The Jewish reformed synagogue is celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year and each month is choosing to select a different food item to collect donations of for the Food Pantry Network. For Rabbi Neal Schuster this idea of helping those in need is simple and constant in their congregation. Like any good Rabbi, he has a passage from the Hebrew Bible ...

DIY: When creativity and philanthropy meet

17 year old Ethan H. Stanley doesn't like to be bored in the summers. After volunteering with his High School Swim team at the DMARC warehouse, he came up with an idea for how he could support a cause he cared about. Thanks to Ethan's direction, On Aug. 15 at Legacy Golf Club golfers will tee off to support DMARC in the inaugural "Putts for the Pantry" golf benefit. "I grew up playing golf, I compete on Dowling's Golf Team, and I love the game of golf," said Stanley, the event director. "I wanted to use my passion for Golf as a way to help others." The event expects to exceed their original fundraising goal of $10,000 through a mix of ...

DMARC Food Pantry Network Hosting ‘Rivalry Week’ Food Drive Competition

Want bragging rights off the field prior to the big game on September 9th? The state's largest food pantry network is inviting the community to give back while showing their Iowa or Iowa State pride during the DMARC Competitive Food or Fund Drive. DMARC is asking workplaces, religious congregations, and other groups to consider hosting a food drive coinciding with the Sept. 9 matchup between the University of Iowa and Iowa State Cyclones. This past Fiscal Year (July 2022 to June 2023) was DMARC’s busiest 12-months ever assisting 59,844 unique individuals – including 1 in 5 people living in Des Moines. Friendly competition never ...

DMARC Sees Single busiest day of Food Pantry Usage

1 in 5 Des Moines residents received food assistance through DMARC The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 1,731 unique individuals on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 setting a single-day record of people assisted. This surpasses the previous single-day record that had been set two months prior on May 2, 2023 assisting 1,728 unique individuals. June and July were both the 2nd and 3rd busiest months ever respectively in the 48-year history of the DMARC Food Pantry Network and many continue to struggle with the rising cost of living and inflated food prices. “The summer has always put additional burdens on families struggl...