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Endow Iowa Offers Tax Benefits to Our Donors | |
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Make your year-end gift to DMARC go further! Consider providing an endowment gift that will ensure DMARC programs and services now and in the future, while also qualifying you for added tax benefits. Your gift made to the Des Moines Area Religious Council Endow Iowa Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines may qualify you to receive Endow Iowa Tax Credits.
The Endow Iowa program allows donors to receive a 25% Iowa tax credit in addition to the usual federal charitable income tax deductions for certain charitable gifts. Credits are limited and are issued on a first-come/first-available basis. Contact Kristine Frakes today at 515-277-6969 to learn more. |
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2013 Calendar Proceeds to benefit DMARC
The Center for Social Mininstry (CSM); an organization offering poverty awareness and justice education programming is featuring CSM and 12 nonprofit organizations in the Des Moines area including DMARC!
These beautiful calendars are professionally done and would make fabulous holiday gifts for friends and family!
DMARC will receive 20% of the proceeds for calendars sold by DMARC, call 515-277-6969 and stop in the office to pick up your calendars.
Cost: $15.00 for one
$25.00 for two
$10.00 each for 3+ |
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Food-Based Fundraiser Ideas for the DMARC Food Pantry Network | |
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- Adults pledge a certain amount per day ($1, for example) for every day that a Sunday School child eats five servings of fruits and vegetables. Ask for pictures of the children eating their fruits/vegies in order to create an honor wall.
- Once/month, prepare salads, entrees, etc. in the church kitchen and sell to members.
- Host a silent auction of special dinners or food baskets created by the members.
- Hold a special fund drive to buy turkeys for pantry clients. Create target goals that, if reached, will trigger once in a lifetime events. For example, if the congregation raises $1,000, the pastor will dress up as a turkey for church one Sunday. (The choir could dress up as all the fixings!)
- Hold a special food drive for the choice pantry where everyone brings a can or box or bag of their favorite healthy food-bags of apples, salad mix, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, carrots, salsa, dried beans, gluten-free cereal, or even condiments, spices, etc.
- Have a veg-off, like a bake-off, but with competition around the best vegetable dish.
- Have a pasta-thon, trying to collect enough pasta to lay the boxes end-to-end all the way around the church or up the aisles or to the nearest food pantry.
- Host a big dress-up night during which every "family" could have a family portrait taken dressed as their favorite foods. (Would require some advance preparation to create or rent costumes.) |
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January Thaw, It's back!
Grow in Faith,
Explore other faith traditions,
Nurture your spirituality and health! |  | |
Join us on Tuesdays, Jan 8 and 15 and/or Thursdays Jan 10 and 17, 2013, from 6:30-9:30pm at Heartland Presbyterian Church, 14300 Hickman Rd., Clive for this tradition of adult education and fellowship opportunities.
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Des Moines Area Religious Council
3816 36th Street, Suite 202
Des Moines, IA 50310-4710
515-277-6969
www.dmreligious.org
www.movethefood.org
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Greetings!
It's back! The 2013 January Thaw will be held Tuesdays, Jan. 8 & 15 and Thursdays, Jan. 10 & 17, at Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive. If you're interested in learning more about this adult education and fellowship opportunity, scroll down and see the left column for details, or go to our website at www.dmreligious.org.
Also, if you're looking for a giving option at the end of the year for tax purposes, consider making a donation to DMARC. To learn more, go to www.dmreligious.org/donate.
Blessings to you during this holiday time!
Note: The DMARC Food Pantry warehouse and office will be close on Tuesday, Christmas Day, December 25 and New Year's Day, January 1, 2013. |
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 Community Calendar
We are pleased to point you to the community calendar on the DMARC website. You may access it at any time. Feel free to upload your own events! Just click on "add an event".
Church relations with non-Christian religions.
On December 9, from 2-4pm, Rev. James Laurenzo will discuss the document, Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, which addresses the need to overcome hostilities and differences and the importance of working together for mutual understanding and benefit. Bring a friend to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2926 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines.
Freedom, Justice and Peace in this World --
Honoring International Human Rights Day
On Monday, Dec. 10, 6:30pm, at the Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave., you are invited to attend a concert echoing the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on Dec. 10, 1948. Guest narrator and Repertory Theater of Iowa actor, Mark Gruber and his colleagues, will explore the voices that remind us of the need to continue working for freedom, justice and peace in this world. Street parking is available or in the underground parking garage on the north side of the building. The concert is free and open to all. Donations are gratefully accepted. Des Moines Diversity Chorus is a 501(c)(3) organization.
"Peace in the Heart" Feast of Holy Innocents Prayer Service for Peace is Friday, December 28
This ecumenical service is one of a series organized over the last several years by the Des Moines Area Area Ecumenical Committee for Peace. "Peace in the Heart" is the theme of this year's service. We will raise our prayers, and strengthen our resolve to end war in Afghanistan, prevent war against Iran, seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Palestine/Israel and insist that "war is not the answer." The service will include prayers, music/song, and a performance by the Gateway Dance Theater. The service will take place at 7pm on Dec. 28, at First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave., Des Moines.
GuideOne Insurance Makes Celebrating the New Year Safe, Fun and Family Friendly in Downtown Des Moines
 GuideOne Insurance, in partnership with the Downtown Community Alliance, welcomes families and children from around the Des Moines metro area to join in the excitement of GuideOne ImaginEve! on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, from 4-8 p.m. at Hy-Vee Hall, Downtown Des Moines.
This premier FREE, family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration will feature a wide range of bounce houses, inflatable rides and giant slides. Kids can test their skills on obstacle courses or enjoy the excitement of carnival games and visits from costumed characters like Batman and Spiderman. Even the little ones can have a fun and safe time in the expanded Toddler Zone, which includes their own space with bounce houses and more. Brand new this year is a greatly-expanded area just for tweens (ages 8-12), including a karaoke stage, laser tag and mini-golf. A fireworks finale for all visitors takes place at 8:10 p.m.
Free parking for GuideOne ImaginEve! is available at the Seventh and Center Street Park and Ride and at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium. Hy-Vee Hall is located at the Iowa Events Center, 703 Third St., Downtown Des Moines. GuideOne ImaginEve! is sponsored by GuideOne Insurance, with support from WHO-HD Channel 13, Praise 940 AM and Lite 104.1. For more information visit www.imagineve.org. |
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 2012-2013
Applications will be taken starting November 1, 2012 for the 2012-2013 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Iowa Department of Human Rights/DCAA, and has been established to help qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs.
Red Rock Area Community Action Program, Inc. Rural Polk County Office at 406 SW School St., Suite 201; Ankeny, Iowa 50023, and will be taking applications from Nov. 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013 (October 1 for households with elderly/disabled member). Applicants need to bring an ID, a copy of their most recent heating and electric bill, telephone bill, and proof of all household members' gross income for the past three months or for the past calendar year.
The assistance is based on household income, household size, type of fuel, and other factors. Eligibility for participation is established according to the following federal income guidelines: Call for details: Des Moines area 515-248-6216 or Ankeny & Polk Co. 515-965-0433. |
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Adult Ed Classes at Temple B'Nai Jeshurun
Rabbi David Kaufman will teach a 3-week long course entitled Modern Reform and will meet November 27, December 4 & 11, from 7-8:30pm. Rabbi Kaufman will examine the changes in the Reform movement over the past century. They will also look at the Reform movement's liturgy up through the newest prayer book.
First Circle Friends Offers Caregivers Respite
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) is proud to introduce a new program to the Des Moines area. First Circle Friends is a group respite program for people with early to mid-stage memory loss, and is run in partnership between LSI and area congregations. Participants are currently being accepted for this program developed by Lutheran Services in America (LSA) and Lyngblomsten in Minnesota. First Circle Friends will be held the first and third Thursday of each month from 10am to 3pm, at Grace Lutheran Church, 3010 52nd St., Des Moines, IA 50310, beginning Nov. 1, 2012. If you are the caregiver of a loved one experiencing memory loss, or know of a family who you feel could benefit from this program, contact Kara Ullestad, First Circle Friends coordinator, at: 515-271-7408.
IRMS is Meeting the Hunger Challenge
The Iowa Religious Media Services is an ecumenical multi-media resource center and lending library supported by six mainline denominations in Iowa and the Upper Midwest.
has a number of excellent resources on the topic of hunger. A few are listed below.
- Food and Faith (DV758) (Young Adult-Adult)
- A Peace of Bread: Faith, Food and the Future (DV1083) (Sr. High-Adult)
- A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor (DV1060) (Young Adult-Adult)
- Journey to Awareness (DV998) (Jr. High-Young Adult)
- Abwenzi Means Friend: A Child's Exploration of the Millennium (BK1506) (Lower Elem-Upper Elem)
- When Did I See You Hungry? (DV484) (Jr. High-Adult)
- Exodus from Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Food (BK1705) (Young Adult-Adult)
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Job / Volunteer / Training Opportunities
Senior Companions - Visiting Nurse Services, Des Moines
Earn extra money up to $200-$400 + every month.
If you are 55 years old or older, able to serve 15 hours /week, open to providing friendly, one-to-one visits to homebound infividuals, making an income at or below $22,340 or more, able to drive (not always mandatory) and a resident of Polk or Warren County. Tax-free hourly stipend, meal reimbursement, holiday and vacation pay, initial training, annual physical and supplemental accident/liability insurance while on duty. Contact the Senior Companion Program Director Julia Tiedeman, 515-558-9957. |
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| Who are we?
The Des Moines Area Religious Council is an interfaith organization with a core membership of about 140 congregations from four faith traditions. Recipient of the 2010 Aurora Award from The Des Moines Register, DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.
The DMARC Food Pantry Network consists of 13 separate pantry sites, a centralized warehouse, and numerous community partners. It is the largest food pantry network in Iowa. Pantry sites are located in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, and nine sites in Des Moines. In 2011, the DMARC Food Pantry
Network assisted over 33,000 people..
MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 35 years of the Food Pantry Network, catalyzing fresh generations, and engaging new constituencies to further support a vision for a day when everyone in Polk County has enough to eat. |
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