DMARC Food Pantry Network sees busiest 12-month period ever
Another record breaking month in June indicates a challenging summer may be ahead
The end of June marks the busiest 12-month period ever for the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network with 59,844 unique individuals making 251,705 visits for monthly assistance. A staggering 1 in 3 individuals had never utilized the DMARC Food Pantry Network before - highlighting the continued strain on people’s budgets.
“The people at the heart of this issue are our neighbors, our family, our friends,” said DMARC CEO Matt Unger. “That’s what makes ...
Faith Leaders, advocates inspire state to change course on food aid for school-age children
Facing public pressure from lawmakers, food insecurity advocates, and faith leaders, Iowa will plan to pursue federal food aid for school age children after initially stating they didn’t intend to apply.
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) distributed a letter signed by over 100 faith leaders from across the state of Iowa encouraging Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, and DHHS Director Kelly Garcia, to submit a proposal to the US. Department of Agriculture for summer P-EBT assistance for school-age children.
DMARC stands alongside the interfaith commun...
Rising to meet the need
The past 12 months at DMARC have been remarkable and this summer looks to be more of the same...
June will mark the fourth time in 2023 when the number of unique individuals being assisted by the DMARC Food Pantry Network reaches an all-time record for that month. It will also mark 14 consecutive months where are seeing a record number of new individuals for that month.
These records are not something we look forward to as more people are struggling to meet their basic needs in our community. Why is this happening? The effects of stagnant wages, pandemic income loss, and ...
DMARC Food Pantry Network Breaks May record on the heels of Governor signing SNAP legislation
Des Moines, IA (May 3, 2023) - The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 20,822 unique individuals in May 2023. This exceeds the previous May record set in 2019 by 2,432 unique individuals – a 13 percent increase. Sadly, this is the third record-breaking month in a row for the DMARC Food Pantry Network and comes on the heals of Governor Kim Reynolds signing S.F. 494 into law Thursday, June 1. The law is estimated to kick over 2,800 Iowans off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by adding additional administrative ...
DMARC Statement on the passage of SF 494
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) is disappointed to learn that Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the controversial bill, Senate File 494, into law yesterday. While we were pleased our advocacy ensured some of the most harmful proposals were ultimately not included in the final bill, SF 494 will, without a doubt, harm the health and well-being of thousands of Iowans facing food insecurity. To add insult to injury, the bipartisan federal budget bill that will inevitably be signed today is creating more unnecessary barriers to accessing SNAP across the nation.
The DMARC ...
Driving change through Food Rescue
For Joan Habel the sound of the DMARC truck backing up to the dock is always a highlight of the week. With 31 years of management experience at the Windsor Heights Sam’s Club, Habel finds that by building relationships with organizations like DMARC can make all the difference for community members seeking out help.
“We have a lot of customers and a lot of damages. Rather than throwing the damaged items in to the landfill, we donate them,” Said Habel. “Everyone we’ve met with DMARC is just so pleasant to work with. They make it easy.”
DMARC is one of many ...
A year after the pandemic ends on paper, food pantry usage continues to grow faster than ever before
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network assisted 1,725 unique individuals on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, setting a new single-day record of people assisted.
All-time single day records were recently set for the DMARC Food Pantry Network on Nov. 1, 2022 (1529) and Tuesday, Jan. 3 2023 (1615). However, the margin of increase on May 2 of over 100 individuals is unprecedented compared to previous records.
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network also assisted 19,305 people in April 2023, a new record for the month, and an ...
Over 200 Iowa Interfaith Leaders Speak Out against SNAP legislation
Re: Iowa Interfaith Leaders Speak Out Against SF 494
Dear Governor Reynolds, Lt. Governor Gregg, and Iowa Legislative Leaders,
We, the undersigned leaders from across the religious spectrum, oppose Senate File 494 on moral, religious, and humanitarian grounds. Feeding the poor is a universal value shared by all major faith traditions and all cultures. As such, we stand together to speak the truth in the face of many harmful, pervasive myths about public assistance and our neighbors in need.
Our neighbors need our help now more than ever. Food pantry usage is at an ...
DMARC Food Pantry Network Breaks March, April records
A year after a massive reduction in public benefits end in Iowa, disturbing trends loom for food insecurity
The DMARC Food Pantry Network set a new record for the number of people assisted in the month of March, reaching 19,410 unique individuals seeking out food assistance. A March record was also set with 1,456 first-time visitors utilizing the DMARC Food Panty Network.
These records highlight a disturbing trend that is continuing into this month. On April 4 , 1,562 unique individuals received food assistance, becoming the second highest single day ever in the ...
DMARC Statement on International Transgender Day of Visibility
At DMARC, we have a mission of working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community – and that includes everyone. We lift up and support our LGBTQ+ community and recognize the unique hardships faced by the queer community in meeting their basic human needs.
Today on International Transgender Day of Visibility we would like to reaffirm our commitment to welcoming all that are seeking assistance, without any proselytization, or judgement. As members of the transgendered community are being targeted across our state and country we feel ...