eVoice - July 28, 2015
DMARC Food Pantry Network Responds to Explosive Growth

The DMARC Food Pantry Network is announcing it has made changes to the amount of food clients are able to receive each month, effective August 1, 2015. Currently, individuals and families can receive a four-day supply of healthy food once a month. Beginning in August, however, this monthly allotment will be reduced to a three-day supply of food, a decrease of 25%.

 

The reason for this reduction has to do with the large increase in the number of families and individuals seeking food assistance. June set new usage records, with the DMARC Food Pantry Network serving 5,652 families comprising 14,785 individuals. These numbers are the highest ever recorded in the Food Pantry Network's nearly 40-year history.

This is the second successive year DMARC has experienced a 16-20% growth in the number of families served by the Food Pantry Network.

 

"In the face of a 20% increase in people served, and with donations lagging behind the need, we must temporarily reduce the amount of food we provide," said DMARC Executive Director Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice.

 

This decision was not an easy one for DMARC, but was deemed financially prudent in the face of such explosive growth.

 

DMARC is committed to returning to a distribution of a four-day supply of food as soon as possible. We are grateful for a generous community and our pantry partners who join us in this important work.

For more information on June's record food pantry use and the decision to move to a three-day supply of food, check out the following media stories:



Oliver's Lemonade Stand Challenge

This story first appeared on WHOTV-13 News, Monday, July 27.

 

When 6-year-old Oliver Moehlis heard the Des Moines Area Religious Council was cutting back on food provisions for the needy, he wanted to do something.

 

Oliver heard on the news that DMARC was cutting back food supplies to those in need by 25 percent.

 

Saturday he launched Oliver's Lemonade Stand. He raised over $100.

 

Oliver told his Mom that he would like to raise enough money to provide a million meals, so he is challenging other kids to raise money with a lemonade stand to help provide more food.

 

"I would say, can you do good for your community, by having a lemonade stand," said Oliver.

 

Wow, thank you Oliver! We hope your generous heart can be an inspiration to help others give in this time of increased need.

 

You can follow Oliver's example and host your own food or fund drive for the DMARC Food Pantry Network!

August's Donation of the Month: Peaches
The Donation of the Month for August is peaches! August is National Peach Month, and what better way to celebrate than to provide some cans of this delicious fruit to hungry families in Greater Des Moines?

The DMARC Food Pantry Network strives to provide healthy, low-sugar options of food at every opportunity. Because of this, we ask that if you are donating canned peaches they are canned in water or light syrup, not in heavy syrup.

You can also donate fresh peaches! Please drop off donations of fresh produce directly to the DMARC Food Pantry Network warehouse, 1435 Mulberry Street in Des Moines. To ensure we have time to distribute fresh produce across the Network, please have these donations in before 9:00 AM on Fridays.
DMARC Community Engagement Committee Seeking Members
DMARC's Community Engagement Committee is seeking members. This committee is responsible for organizing interfaith engagement events, and is currently working on planning the first ever Iowa Interfaith Exchange. If you are interested in joining the Community Engagement Committee, please contact Executive Director Sarai Rice, [email protected] or 515-277-6969 x11.
Des Moines Area Religious Council

1435 Mulberry Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

 

515-277-6969

Peaches
canned in water or
light syrup
not in heavy syrup
 
Community Calendar
August 2

August 6


August 9

August 10

August 14

August 23

August 30

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 is a membership organization of congregations with differing views. It gladly distributes information from member or partner individuals, congregations, and other agencies, but inclusion of such material should not be construed as sponsorship or endorsement by DMARC. It 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. Undated general announcements and employment opportunities are included for one week unless requested to be included for a longer period of time. Approval of this disclaimer by the Board of Directors pending.
Colombian Agricultural Advocates to Present
Sunday, August 2, 7:00 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church
4126 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines

Foods Resource Bank is a faith-based partnership that accompanies small farmers in becoming able to grow the food their families need to thrive.

Guests from the FRB partner organization in Colombia, Weaving Hope Agricultural Foundation, will be speaking at Plymouth Church in Des Moines on Sunday, August 2 at 7:00pm. They will discuss their work with small farmers who are growing food crops in Choco and address the impact of the U.S. War on Drugs and how the aerial fumigation of coca, the plant processed to make cocaine, has destroyed farmers' food crops.

This event is sponsored by Plymouth Peace Committee, the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, Oxfam Action Corps, the Methodist Federation for Social Action (Iowa Chapter), and Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace.

Meals from the Heartland's Annual Hunger Fight Kick-off
The Hy-Vee Cup is coming to Jordan Creek Town Center on Thursday, August 6!

Come out to Jordan Creek and get a start on your back to school shopping. When you need a break, come visit Meals from the Heartland on the lower level by Younkers to package meals for an hour between 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.


Register online here with family and friends! After packaging, root for your favorite business or organization vying for the coveted cup from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. The first team to package two boxes wins.

During both activities, sample delicious creations from several Jordan Creek stores and restaurants who will use our meals as a main ingredient in one-of-a-kind recipes.

 

For questions regarding the event, please email us at [email protected] or call 515-473-9530. We look forward to seeing you there!


 
Please note: This is the only open packaging event for the day. We will not hold our regularly scheduled events at the packaging center in the afternoon or evening.

Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway

CROSS Ministries will be holding a Back-to-School Giveaway of 1,500 free, filled backpacks on Thursday, August 6, 3:00 - 8:00 PM (or until supplies are gone).

 

Grades Headstart - 12th are eligible. Please bring IDs for all members of the family.

 

The event will be held at Cottage Grove Presbyterian Mission Center, 1050 24th Street in Des Moines.

 

Questions? Call 279-8877 or 279-9998.
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.