eVoice
Des Moines Area Religious Council and MovetheFood.org

 A bi-weekly newsletter of the
 DMARC and MovetheFood Community

   
In This Issue
Younkers Coupon Fundraiser
Community Calendar
Faith Community News
Job/Volunteer Opportunities
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DMARC website!
MovetheFood website!
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Center for Social Ministry Calendar

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!

 

Cost is $10.00 each and 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 today!

Tour Select Food Pantries in Des Moines and West Des Moines

Ankeny Food Pantry
On January 31, February 1 & 4, two of DMARC's partner food pantries will be hosting Pantry Tours. Half hour tours will be guided each day, hosted by a member of the Board or staff from DMARC as well as a Board member or staff from the specific pantry.

 

The following locations and times are available for tours:

 

Thursday, January 31

Des Moines Community Action Agency food pantry(1616 6th Ave.) 5:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.

 

Friday, February 1

Des Moines Community Action Agency food pantry (1616 6th Ave.) Noon or 12:30 p.m.

 

Monday, February 4

West Des Moines Human Services food pantry (318 5th St.) 2:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.

 

Monday, February 4

Des Moines Community Action Agency (1616 6th Ave.) 4:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.

 
RSVP to DMARC Tour Coordinator Sonya Dettmann at 515-277-6969 or [email protected] by Jan 25.
  
Learn more at www.movethefood.org.
  

DMARC announces new "Market Style" Pantry.

fresh vegetables
DMARC Food Pantry network has opened its newest pantry site in cooperation with Central Iowa Shelter & Services located at 1420 Mulberry St.
  
Pantry Hours are Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This site replaces the downtown pantry site formerly located at the Iowa Homeless Youth
Center.
  
Market Style Pantries
are designed with a grocery
store format where clients can "shop" for foods from specific categories, selecting quantities based on family
size and preference. The pantry was funded in part by the Telligen Community Initiative, which initiaties and supports innovative and farsighted health-related projects.
  
Families may request a 4-day supply of food once a month. For other locations and hours call 515-277-6969.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Des Moines Area Religious Council

3816 36th Street, Suite 202

Des Moines, IA 50310-4710

515-277-6969

www.dmreligious.org

www.movethefood.org

  

 

January 22, 2013

AugustThawChill_image Greetings!   

January Thaw 2013 made it's comeback with over 100 people in attendance! This interfaith educational study program was held in mid-January at the Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive. Class topics included: Darwin, Human Evolution and Religion, Spirituality, Jewish Meditation, Buddhist Philosophy, Women in the Bible, Racial Reconciliation to Reparations, Islam in Current Challenges in America and more.

 

A big "thank you" to our premier event sponsor, GuideOne Insurance, and other sponsors including: the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the Center for Social Ministry, the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, and the Masjid An-Noor Muslim Community.

 

If you attended and like the concept of January Thaw, why not get involved? You can influence our next interfaith event. DMARC's Community Engagement Committee meets monthly and welcomes all faiths and skill levels to get involved! If interested in joining our committee, contact Executive Director Sarai Rice at: [email protected] or 515-277-6969.

 

Thank you.

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 Business Adminstrators - you are invited to the January Meeting of the Central Iowa NACBA Chapter!

On Thursday, January 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at First Assembly, 2725 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines. Presentation topic is on Sharing our Space and will include discussion about facility usage policies and practices. RSVP to Vicky Pettegrew at: [email protected], by Tuesday, January 22. HOMEWORK NOTE:  If you have a Building Use Policy or other forms you would like to share, email them to Laurel Swanson, Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona at: 515-967-4818 or [email protected], and she'll put them into a single PDF document that will be distributed to the group at the meeting.

 

Jesus cropFrom Jesus to Christ:  the first Christians  

The Film showing of "From Jesus to Christ: the First Christians" is Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at First Unitarian Church, 1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines. This award winning PBS documentary, 58 minutes long, presents the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth in First Century Palestine from the perspective of leading scholars around the world. Discussion to follow. led by Fr. Dave Polich and Mark Metz.

Mardi Gras CSM    
Join us at a Mardi Gras event to remember!

On Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, from 6:00-9:30 p.m., all are invited to attend this Mardi Gras celebration at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 6th & Grand Ave in Des Moines. There will be live entertainment, masks & decorations, unique prayer ritual, door prizes, and traditional Mardi Gras food including a Jambalaya Cook-off with local celebrities and chefs from Fat Tuesday and Buzzard Billys. Tickets are: $100 Sponsor (includes two tickets for event); $75 for two; or $40 for one. Proceeds will support Center for Social Ministries and Catholic Charities. DMARC will receive a share of the proceeds.

Faith Community  News
  
TaxAssistance Need Help Filing Taxes?

If you earned $50,000 or less in 2012, you may be eligible to receive Free Tax Preparation! You also may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Care Tax Credits. Call 2-1-1 for more information. 211 is free and available 24/7.

 

Earth Words Sermon Contest

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is pleased to announce its annual Earth Words Sermon Contest the weekend of Feb. 8-10, 2013.

Winning sermons will be shared through Iowa IPL's newsletter and website. In addition prizes will be awarded for the top three sermons. The top prize winner will be awarded the Ray Heinicke Award for Excellence in Preaching. Sermon must be delivered to a religious community between Feb. 8-10, 2013. Make submissions electronically to [email protected] by March 12. To register click here. Contact Susan Guy for questions at [email protected].

 

Interfaith Hospitality Network Name Change

IHN sheltered it's first guest in 2004, as an independent affiliate of a national organization, "Family Promise". Since then, they have grown and expanded services from basic shelter to full-time family case management and support for families through their After Care Program. The new name will be Family Promise of Greater Des Moines. The mission remains the same: to mobilize our community to help homeless families achieve stable housing and income. The present website will remain for now: www.dmihn.org, but will eventually change to www.familypromisedm.org, as will their email address.

 

Vote for Moulton Elemenatry on Facebook
and Help Plant a Garden

FoodCorps helps kids connect with agriculture and grow healthy lifestyles and they are traveling across the country, stopping at specific sites to help alleviate food deserts. Currently they are helping Moulton Elementary in Des Moines apply for a grant oppurtunity from Burpee Gardens to win 50 transplants for the school garden, 450 transplants for community members and to recieve 1,300 pounds of produce as well, for Moulton Elementary. To help this cause, go to Facebook and participate by selecting 'Des Moines, Iowa" and vote for Moulton Extended Learning Center. 

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.

 

Office Manager/Secretary - Epworth United Methodist Church, Des Moines

The Epworth United Methodist Church is one of three Mission churches within the Iowa Annual Conference. The position is an important communication center for the church's connection with the community and Iowa United Methodists. Skills required: PC computer competency, internet communication and good people skills. 20 hours/week, hourly wage. Send resume and three references (previous employment; character; religious) by Jan. 22, to Epworth United Methodist Church. Attn: Pastor Brian Carter at 412 Euclid Ave., Des Moines, IA 50313 or email [email protected].

 

Part-time Custodian - Ft. Des Moines United Methodist Church, Des Moines

15 hrs per week, mornings preferred. Duties include but are not limited to: normal cleaning of facility, snow removal, lawn mowing. Applications can be picked up at the church at 6205 SW 9th St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to Noon. Applications due by January 31.

 

Iowa Kids Net Needs Parents for Forever Families!

Between Sept. and Dec. 31, 2012, over 1000 children were removed from their homes and placed into foster care across the state of Iowa. These children were removed from their homes because they experienced severe abuse or neglect, or because of dangerous conditions such as parental substance abuse or other form of parental impairment. While they are removed from their family homes, these children need safe and loving homes to care for them. However, many of these children spend time in shelters or other facilities because there are not enough foster and adoptive homes to meet the need.  Please visit iowakidsnet.com or call 800-243-0756, for more information. 

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

 

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 36 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. 
Younkers Coupon Booklet   
Save $10
and more at
Y
ounkers stores
March 1-2, 2013
For $5, you can purchase a Younkers 2-day Community Event Coupon Booklet through the Des Moines Area Religious Council. All proceeds from the sales will go to support the DMARC Food Pantry Network. Coupons can be used in stores Friday & Saturday, March 1 & 2, 2013. Booklets contain $400 worth of Younkers/BonTon coupons, plus a $10-off coupon. 
  

DMARC CHALLENGE: Buy 2, one for yourself and one for a friend. Help spread the DMARC mission of religious communities helping to meet basic human needs in greater Des Moines.

 

What your coupon donation can provide: 

     $5 =     7 meals
   $25 =    35 meals
 $100 =   135 meals

 

In 2012, DMARC served:

  • Over 33,000 people in Greater Des Moines
  • Nearly 50% of DMARC food pantry clients are children and youth.

Click here to purchase a coupon booklet today.

Thank you for supporting DMARC!