DES MOINES, Iowa (December 12, 2012) - The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) announced today that it has increased food available for families and individuals through its Food Pantry Network. The change from distribution of a 3-day supply of food to a 4-day supply of food once each month is expected to result in nearly 340,000 more emergency meals available in Greater Des Moines over the next year.

Once a month, a family of four visiting one of the 13 DMARC-related food pantries, will now receive a 4-day food supply (49 items) compared to the 3-day food supply (31 items) they have been receiving.

This much-welcomed and added day of emergency food is largely the result of the outpouring of community support from thousands of DMARC donors and funders over the past twelve months. "Through the amazing generosity and contributions of so many congregations, individuals, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations," said executive director Sarai Rice, "we are confident that we can sustain adding one more day's worth of meals to our food boxes."

"DMARC has never wavered from its commitment to provide food to everyone who asks for help," continued Rice, "even when it means reducing the number of food items a family receives, as we did a year ago."

Families struggling to meet basic needs are likely to face unknown challenges in the coming months, including drought-related increases in food prices.

"We know that even four days worth of food is not enough," Rice said. "And, of course, DMARC will continue to rely on the compassion and caring of Iowans to help us provide emergency food for our friends and neighbors in need."

What goes into a food box? "A very carefully planned list of shelf stable and fresh food," according to Rebecca Whitlow, director of DMARC's Food Pantry Network. "Our food box contents are based on the best nutritional balance we can offer with the limited resources we have."

The DMARC Food Pantry Network is grateful for the incredible support base of volunteers, in-kind donors and cash donors. Cash gifts are especially welcome, as we can buy two- to six-times as much food from our wholesale and Food Bank sources as can be purchased retail.

Donations are accepted by credit card or Dwolla at MovetheFood.org/donate. Or mail your donation to: DMARC, 3816 36th Street, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50310. Or call: 515-277-6969.

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 35 years of food assistance work, catalyzing fresh generations, and engaging new constituencies to further support a vision for a day when everyone in Polk County has enough to eat.

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 2012, the DMARC Food Pantry Network will assist about 33,000 people; nearly half who are children or youth.

DMARC is the acronym for the Des Moines Area Religious Council, 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.

Contact Sarai Schnucker-Rice, Executive Director, DMARC/MovetheFood at: sarai@dmreligious.org or 515-277-6969.