Dear DMARC delegates and clergy,

  

We want to share some big news with all of our member congregations!

 

After many years at our 36th Street address, the Des Moines Area Religious Council will soon be moving our offices and warehouse to a new location -- 1435 Mulberry Street, southwest of downtown Des Moines.  

   

We've purchased the former Central Iowa Shelter and Services site and are in the process of renovating the interior space and site.  

 

This is exciting for so many reasons. We'll be able to:

• Consolidate our office and warehouse space into one facility.
• Expand the food pantry operation. Our current warehouse has 1,600 square feet and functions more like a staging area than a warehouse -- every week, enough food for 20,000-30,000 meals goes through this space. The new food distribution center will have 6,000 square feet, which means we will finally be able to purchase food in larger quantities at lower prices and store the food until we need it. We estimate that we will be able to save about $250,000 annually with these changes by being able to buy and store food rather than having to always buy it for immediate use.
• Work more efficiently because the additional warehouse space will allow us to use warehouse equipment instead of relying solely on manual labor.
• Reduce pick-up and delivery costs because this is centrally located to our 13 partner pantry locations.

 

We're going to be putting up signs at the construction site in the next few days, so feel free to drive by to check things out!  We hope to be in the new space by the end of the year. We'll be letting you know about volunteer opportunities as we get ready to move. 

 

Thank you so much for your support as individual delegates! Please share this news with your congregation and let them know that we are so grateful for the ongoing support of all our congregations.

 

The DMARC congregations came together as an amazing community of faith in 1952, and we are all blessed to build on the foundation created by our brothers and sisters as we take this next step.

 

Watch for more details to come.  

 

 

The Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice, Executive Director

Des Moines Area Religious Council

sarai@dmreligious.org
515-277-6969