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DMARC Partners
with Walgreens in
Red Barrel Program
for the Month of June! | |
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DMARC is partnering with 21 Des Moines area Walgreens' stores in the Red Barrel Program for the month of June. The kick off was held on Saturday, June 1 and was aired on KRNT AM1350.
During June, DMARC and MovetheFood will accept donations of cash and shelf-stable food and personal items from the stores to support its 14-site Food Pantry Network.
Walgreens manager John Lipshaw said this about the Red Barrel program, "I think it is nice that Walgreens and DMARC are able to partner together in this much needed program, while helping our communities Be Well!" |
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High School Students, Bored this Summer? Attend an Interfaith
Youth Justice Camp |  | |
On Wednesday, August 7, 2013 from 9am to 9pm, high schoolers and their leaders are invited to attend this justice camp at the American Friends House, 4211 Grand Ave. Cost is $25.00. Scholarships are available.
Learn about social justice in our community and how you can make a difference:
- Tour a Food Pantry
- Tour worship spaces
- Tour community outreach organizations
- Expert speakers
- Games
- Small & large group sharing
- Prayers from various faith traditions
For more info, contact DMARC office at 515-277-6969, or info@dmreligious.org. |
DMARC and the
I-Cubs are Partnering to help the Food Pantry Network!
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The Iowa Cubs and DMARC Food Pantry Network are partnering to collect food items at Sunday home games. Fans are invited to bring three food items in exchange for one general admission ticket. (General admission tickets may be upgraded to reserved grandstand for $3. Cash donations may be accepted but not for tickets.)
Gates open at 11:35am, for the following Sunday afternoon home games (game time is 1:05pm):
- July 14
- August 11
- August 25
NOTE: All Volunteer spots are filled - 5/1/2013.
It's going to be a great summer! Thanks for your support.
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Downtown Farmer's
Market Needs you! | |
We need volunteers Saturday mornings throughout the duration of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market to work the MovetheFood booth in partnership with Meals from the Market. Volunteers will help educate potential donors and take donations of fresh produce to our warehouse truck for future delivery to our food pantry partners. In 2012, the Meals from the Market program contributed to our distribution of over 300,000 pounds of fresh produce to our 13 pantry sites, a key aspect to our focus on health.
To sign up and volunteer, please go to the Meals from the Market volunteer website. Here are the Saturday dates volunteers are needed at the Downtown Farmers Market:
- June 22
- July 6 & 20
- August 3, 17 & 31
- September 14 & 28
- October 12 & 26
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Beyond Beliefs Tour is Educational
and Fun! |  |
Join us on our Beyond Beliefs Tour and visit four different sites showcasing unique architecture and the history of faith traditions. Experience interactive kiosks designed to familiarize you with a variety of different religions and to promote religious tolerance.
The spring tours in May were so popular that new dates have been added for June 27th, July 17th and 31st. Call DMARC and ask for Tour Coordinator Sonya Dettmann, to get signed up. Cost is $30; includes transportation and lunch.
Click here to see a brochure and registration form. Or click here to learn more and see photos of the 2013 tour locations. |
Des Moines Area Religious Council / MovetheFood
3816 36th Street, Suite 202
Des Moines, IA 50310-4710
515-277-6969
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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".
NACBA monthly meeting in June
You are invited to the June 20 meeting at 11:30 a.m. of the local Church Business Administrators Association, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3223 University Ave., Des Moines. Topic: "The importance of good financial statements".
Lunch provided by Charity Kuehn of Union Bank. RSVP by Tuesday, June 18 at 515 967 4818 --Laurel Swanson or www.lccaltoona.org.
Garden Party Invite for Sangria Summer Solstice Celebration on June 29
The Arts at St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, is having one heck-of-a party the Saturday night of the Des Moines Arts Festival, June 29th. It starts off with tours of beautiful gardens and ends up with a Mexican-themed bash complete with sangria, salsa dishes, and salsa dancing! Not only will your favorite band, Asphalt & Stained Glass, be playing, there will be special salsa dance lessons from two, professional instructors! Music, food, fun, fellowship in a beautiful garden setting - it doesn't get much better than that.
Registration is underway for CACTUS Fine Arts Day Camp, July 22-26!
CACTUS (Creative Arts Camp: Together Under the Sun) offers children entering grades three through eight a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the arts for one delightful week each summer. Held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, this year's camp is scheduled for July 22-26, from 8:30am to 2:30pm, with a concluding worship celebration on Sunday morning, July 28. CACTUS is a unique visual and performing arts experience that builds confidence, promotes team-work and deepens faith. Registration for CACTUS is $60 per child, plus a can of juice or a bag of snacks. To sign up, call 515-274-1534 or go to www.westpres.org to download a registration form.
LADOS Life after Death of Spouse
This DMARC-sponsored support group meets the second Sunday evening of each month at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 42nd St. & Ingersoll, Des Moines. For details, contact LADOS Coordinator Connie Coy-Walker at: 515-255-2229.
"Don't Eat Alone"
Any widowed person is welcome to join this group which meets every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., at the Olive Garden, 3600 Westown Pkwy., West Des Moines. This program is an offshoot of the LADOS (see above) support group for widowed people. For more information, contact LADOS Coordinator Connie Coy-Walker at: 515-255-2229.
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Faith Community News
Neat Idea for Congregation Emergency Plans!
Last Sunday, Rising Sun Church of Christ had a "Drill n'Clean" Sunday. Everyone dressed down for the day and they started with worship, then had a tornado drill, then everyone pitched in to "Spring Clean" the church and this was followed by a fire drill. With everyone outside we took a group picture and then had lunch. It was a very successful day! Posters were created for every room giving instructions about fire exits and tornado shelter areas. It brought out some things they needed to change when the staff toured the building with the Assistant Fire Chief from Pleasant Hill. They saved money not having to add hours to cleaning staff duties, so they could spring clean and the church body was truly engaged. It was a great day! The next step will be ALICE training, in August or September for teachers, leaders, etc.
Free Oil Change offered by Timberline Church
The Faith in Action team of Timberline Church is offering to all single mothers, widows, spouses/families of deployed military personnel, or unemployed persons/families a FREE Oil Change on Sunday, June 30. Make your appointment by Wednesday, June 26. Have ready the make, model, year and engine size of your vehicle so tht they can have the appropriate oil filter.
FREE breakfast or lunch depending on time of your appointment. Call 515-287-6089.
A "Wish List" from the Islamic Center
The Islamic Center members will be setting up an all-day school for elementary students. If you are interested in making donations to their new school, they are in need of office and/or school furniture, desks, chairs, tables, filing cabinets, computers, printers, or a copier. Contact: Assistant Director Luai Amro, at: 515-283-5452, amro.laui@principal.com.
JustFaith Program Offers Learning Opportunity
JustFaith is a 24-week small group process that focuses on engagement in the life of Jesus and the call to be about God's dream of justice in a world scarred by the domestic and global crisis of poverty. Particpants are exposed to a substantive course of study (based on Catholic social teaching or Christian social principles) and are afforded the privilege of becoming community with other participants and sharing a spiritual journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging. For more about the program or to find out where JustFaith groups are being offered in the DM area this fall, contact Susie Paloma at the Center for Social Ministry, 515-782-3054 or centerforsocialministry@gmail.com.
Summer Food Service Program is Available for Youth
Free lunch for kids will be served at school and park sites throughout Des Moines through the Summer Food Service Program. The lunches will be from 11am-1pm. Meals will begin on June 10. For more info, visit: www.dmschools.org/
departments/operations/food-nutrition/summer-meal-program/,
or contact lyn.jenkins@dmschool.org.
Amanda the Panda Offers Day of Hope & Healing Workshop on July 20
Amanda the Panda serves anyone (ages 6 through adults) who has had the loss of a friend or family member. We are not faith-sponsored, so all faiths are welcome. Our core programs are support groups, camps, fun days, holiday support and on-site school or church visits following a death. Click here to learn more about the new Day of Hope and Healing Invitation. Amanda the Panda also offers a full-year program on grief, and presentations for church groups looking for programs and mission projects for youth. Contact Program Coordinator Cindy Meek at: 1821 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50265 or 515-223-4847 or cindy@amandathepanda.org.
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Job / Volunteer / Training Opportunities
Volunteer - Des Moines Community Action Agency, Des Moines
Regular volunteer needed for 1 hour mornings on Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri each week to pick up bread at the HyVee store on Martin Luther King and deliver it to the DMCAA partner food pantry of DMARC's Food Pantry Network. This might be best suited for a newly retired individual with a van or large car. Contact Melissa Nordell-Eart at the Des Moines Community Action Agency, 1618 6th Ave., Des Moines, IA 50314 or 515-248-6245, or you can reach Melissa by emailing: manordell-earp@dmgov.org
Donor Relations & Data Entry Coordinator - Hope Ministries, Des MoinesThis is a full-time position. For a complete job description, including instructions for applying, click here.
Choir Director - First Presbyterian Church, Grimes
Opening is for a part-time Choir Director. The music program consists of an adult choir, children's choir, and special music for worship. This is a September-May position. All applicants will be subject to a background check. A full job description is available at www.grimesfirstpresbyterianchurch.org under the Resources tab. Contact: 515-986-3720, grimespresbyterian@mchsi.com.
Support Position - Taylor House Hospice, Des Moines
Provide different types of support, based on your interests, talents and abilities. May work directly with patient care, provide respite breaks for family members, lend emotional support and companionship. Or help behind the scenes role by assisting with fundraising efforts, special projects, clerical work. Bakers are needed to drop off goodies for patients and family members. Training provided regarding: end-of-life processes, care and comfort measures and goals of hospice. Basic volunteer training will be June 18, 20, 25 and 27. Questions or to sign up contact Mary Anne Brekke at 515-557-3111.
Re-entry Coordinator - Women at the Well, a United Methodist Church program, Mitchellville
Half-time Reentry Coordinator is needed to lead and support ministry with women as they re-enter society after incarceration at the women's prison in Mitchellville, Iowa. This individual will recruit, train and resource re-entry teams from churches around Iowa, and connect returning citizens with those teams. He or she will also lead a periodic program inside the prison to assist women in preparing to go out on parole. Job description is available here. Resumes should be submitted to Pastor Lee Schott, Women at the Well UMC, P.O. Box 33, Mitchellville, IA 50169, or revlas333@gmail.com, by June 17, 2013.
Volunteers - DMARC Food Pantry Warehouse, Des Moines
We need help in our food pantry warehouse. Are you able to lift 40-50 lbs. and put produce in our warehouse cooler? We need volunteers after the Downtown Farmers Market to help unload produce from the Meals from the Market program each Saturday for 1 hour in the afternoon, at our 36th Street warehouse. Contact the Food Pantry Network Director Rebecca Whitlow, at 515-277-6969.
Volunteer - Des Moines Community Action Agency, Des Moines
A regular volunteer is needed for 1 hour in the mornings on Mon, Wed, Thurs, & Fri, each week to pick up bread at the HyVee store on Martin Luther King and deliver it to the DMCAA partner food pantry of DMARC's Food Pantry Network. This might be best suited for a newly retired individual with a van or large car. Contact Melissa Nordell-Earp at the Des Moines Community Action Agency, 1618 6th Ave., Des Moines, IA 50314, or 515-248-6245.
AmeriCorps Position for August-July 2014 - Rebuilding Together, Des Moines
Starting in August - 11 months. Ambitious individual to fill CapacityCorps member position. Organize home repair projects, manage annual Rebuilding Day project, promote Community Leadership Program, recruit organizations to volunteer, build the new veteran program, collect and analyze applicant demographic data, work closely with neighborhood associations. Train in Washington D.C., a Martin Luther King Jr. week trip to a different city and opportunity to engage with other CapacityCorps members across the nation. Contact Beth Hicks at: bhicks@rebuildingdm.org.
Crafters Wanted - Fort Des Moines UMC, Des Moines
Do you make handcrafted items, have a home-based business or are you an independent consultant or know someone you is? The Fort Des Moines United Methodist Church, 6205 SW 9th St., in Des Moines, wants crafters and vendors for their fall vendor/draft/bake sale on Oct. 5, 2013, 8:30am to 3pm. The table fee is $35. Please contact the church office at 515-285-6545 for a registration form or email the church office at church_ftdsmumc@q.com to reserve your table.
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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 2013 LIVE UNITED Advocate Award from the United Way of Central Iowa, DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.
The DMARC Food Pantry Network consists of 14 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 10 sites in Des Moines. In 2012, the DMARC Food Pantry
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. Network assisted about 33,000 people; nearly half who are children or youth. |
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