eVoice - April 14, 2015
About 40% of DMARC food pantry participants rely on friends and family to help with rent or utility payments or housing

More than a roof and shelter, a reliable place to call home offers the stability needed to hold a steady job, go to school, care for a sick parent or child, or to volunteer. Ideally, home is the place where we feel safe and secure and can rest and nourish our minds and bodies.

 

Yet, we know safe, affordable housing is a challenge for many DMARC participants.

Based on a recent report by the Homelessness Research Institute, the number of people living "doubled up" in the United States has increased 67 percent since 2007. And, the number of poor renter households experiencing severe housing cost burden (more than 50 percent of their income toward housing) has increased 25%. Read the report, The State of Homelessness in America 2015.

In response and with support from a generous community, the DMARC Housing Stability Fund provides emergency rent and utility assistance to prevent families from becoming homeless.

 

On average, just $123 in DMARC rent and utility assistance helps keep an individual stably housed. For a family, the average assistance needed is just $346. 

 

Your recurring gift of $10 each month or $6.65 each week can help keep a child in their home or stabilize a family.

Donate Now

Thank You for Your Support!

March 2015 Food Pantry Usage Increases


Food Pantry Network usage jumped again in March to double-digit increases from 2014, but this can be attributed to the opening of Polk County River Place Food Pantry.

In March 2015, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted 4,742 families and 12,133 individuals. Volunteers throughout the Network put in a total of 3,862 hours.
Polk County River Place Food Pantry, which opened on March 9, 2015, served
491 families and 850 individuals this month. Below is a snapshot of the Food Pantry Network usage without River Place's statistics included.
Download a PDF of DMARC Food Pantry Network Increases March 2015.
This Weekend: Free Iowa Cubs Sunday Home Game
I-Cubs logo
At every Iowa Cubs Sunday home game this summer, DMARC will be accepting three food items as a donation in exchange for one general admission ticket. Fans can also pay $5 to upgrade to a Grand Stand seat.

This Sunday, April 19, the Iowa Cubs will host their first Sunday home game against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, at 1:00 p.m. Bring three non-perishable food items for a free general admission ticket!

Find a full list of the Iowa Cubs Sunday Home Games on our community calendar.
Thursday: The Comparison Project Lecture on Muslim Mysticism

The female Muslim mystic, Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya (d. 801), is widely considered one of the most influential mystics of Sufism. Almost single-handedly, she redirected the early spirit of Sufism away from the path of austere asceticism and toward the path of divine love. Dr. Albertini's illustrated lecture will analyze Rabi'a's mystical poetry with respect to her struggle to express an ineffable love for Allah.

 

Dr. Tamara Albertini was raised in North Africa where she learned Arabic and attended Qur'anic classes. Later, she obtained a Lic.phil. from the University of Basel (Switzerland) and a Dr.phil. from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit�t in Munich (Germany) in Islamic and Renaissance studies. Her many publications aim at reintroducing the vigor and vision of Muslim intellectual contributions from the classical period. Since 9/11, she speaks widely on Islamic Fundamentalism, Women and Islam, and Islamic Law.

 

Note: The lecture will be preceded by a 6:00 p.m. meditation by Meditation Around Town.

Des Moines Area Religious Council

1435 Mulberry Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

 

515-277-6969

Canned Chicken
canned in water
Community Calendar
April 14

April 16


April 18

April 19

April 26

May 1-2

May 2


May 3

May 10

May 11

DMARC does not require participation in religious services as a condition to receive assistance, and does not engage in religious proselytizing or counseling. DMARC practices non-discrimination in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations. All services and programs are provided to consumers without discrimination in regard to family size or structure, religious or cultural beliefs, race, gender, age,
or disability.

Community Announcements
Disclaimer: The Des Moines Area Religious Council makes every effort to provide accurate and useful general information in its eVoice, but accepts no liability for the use of the material by individuals or organizations. We gladly distribute information from member or partner individuals, congregations, and other agencies, but our inclusion of such material should not be construed as being sponsored or endorsed by DMARC. Undated general announcements and employment opportunities are included for one week unless requested to be included for a longer period of time.
New LADOS Location
Effective May 10, Life After Death of Spouse (LADOS) will be meeting at Grace United Methodist Church, 3700 Cottage Grove, Des Moines.
Tonight: The Screwtape Letters

Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.

Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University

 

C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters creates a topsy-turvy morally inverted universe set in an eerily stylish office in hell, where God is called the "Enemy" and the devil is referred to as "Our Father below." The play follows His abysmal sublimity Screwtape, Satan's top psychiatrist (due to his profound understanding of human nature), and his slavish creature-demon Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to ruin the life and damn the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth. Screwtape is played by Brent Harris (Scar-The Lion King National Tour).

SNAP Enrollment Fair

Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Room 2, Polk County River Place, 2309 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines


Polk County is holding a SNAP in a Day Enrollment Fair for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Participants can apply for food assistance at no cost, without needing an appointment. Interpreters will be available.

Transportation is provided. Please contact Linda at 515-286-3406 to be placed on a transportation list. You will then be contacted a day or two prior to the event to confirm your transportation needs.

Pizza and Pastors: Fornication

Thursday, April 16, 11:00 a.m.

de Kelder, Relationship Enrichment Center

1111 Washington Street, Pella

 

All pastors and church leaders are invited to come for food, fellowship and discussion on the issues that, often times, consume too much of the Church's resources and the Pastor's time.

 

The door opens at 11:00 a.m. with pizza at 11:30 a.m. and followed by a brief presentation by Dr. Mark Majors on a current, relevant pastoral care issue. His Biblically based psychological approach to issues has proven to be a help to pastors and church leaders for over 22 years.

 

This Month's Topic: Fornication

An Easter Gift to the World

It has been a decade since the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square had performed Handel's masterpiece, Messiah, at Easter, and the two groups have never performed the entire work in public. Yet this Easter, the Choir and Orchestra did just that on Good Friday. They were joined by renowned soloists. To make sure the entire world has access to this concert, the Choir is taking extraordinary steps to provide the broadcast to anyone with access to the Internet. 

 

Local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invite friends in the DMARC community to share this opportunity with others. To experience the sublime and inspiring Messiah at home or in your congregations, read about the event in full.

"Talking About When Life Ends: A Series of Conversations"

Central Presbyterian Church invites you to Talking About When Life Ends: A Series of Conversations.

These speaking sessions will be held at Central Presbyterian Church, 39th and Grand in Des Moines. For more information, visit dmcpc.org/events-at-central/.

 

Hospice Care on Your Terms, Jenny Lohner, RN
Sunday, April 19, 4:00 p.m.

What You Need to Know About Funerals but Don't Want to Ask, Robin Walter, Funeral Director
Sunday, April 26, 4:00 p.m.
New Hope UMC Rummage Sale
New Hope United Methodist Church
4525 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310

New Hope United Methodist Church is holding a spring rummage and bake sale from April 23-25 at their church. Hours are below.

Thursday, April 23, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Who Are We?

The Des Moines Area Religious Council is an interfaith organization with a core membership of over 130 congregations from four faith traditions. Recipient of the 2012 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 12 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 eight sites in Des Moines. In 2013, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted more than 34,000 individuals in the greater Des Moines community; half of whom are children and youth.

 

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on nearly 40 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.
Disclaimer: The Des Moines Area Religious Council makes every effort to provide accurate and useful general information in its eVoice, but accepts no liability for the use of the material by individuals or organizations. We gladly distribute information from member or partner individuals, congregations, and other agencies, but our inclusion of such material should not be construed as being sponsored or endorsed by DMARC. Undated general announcements and employment opportunities are included for one week unless requested to be included for a longer period of time.