eVoice - August 18, 2015
Central Iowa Shelter & Services Pantry Adds Sunday Hours
Central Iowa Shelter & Services' food pantry is adding hours on Sundays! The CISS food pantry will be open from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, beginning on August 23. With these added hours, the DMARC Food Pantry Network now has open hours every day of the week!
DMARC continues to pursue opportunities to expand the hours that partner food pantries are open in our Food Pantry Network!
DMARC Food Pantry Network Covered in Washington Post
DES MOINES, Iowa - Food banks across the country are seeing a rising demand for free groceries despite the growing economy, leading some charities to reduce the amount of food they offer each family.

In Iowa, two years of 20 percent increases in demand forced the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network on Aug. 1 to reduce the food given out at its 12 pantries from a four-day supply to three.

The council's executive director, the Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice, said Iowa's low unemployment rate, at 3.7 percent, hasn't made a difference.

"The economy is really not getting better for low-income people," Rice said.

That includes Peggy Bragg, 56, of Des Moines, who has been out of work for months. Bragg, who lives with her daughter, says the pantry bridges the gap for four or five days a month when no money is left for food.

"I know what people go through," she said. "You have to choose between food and bills."
Final Iowa Cubs Sunday Home Game of the Season!
Living Well Together Produce Box Volunteer Needed
We are currently looking for an additional volunteer to help package produce boxes for Living Well Together. This volunteer would be responsible for coming in every Tuesday morning to assemble boxes with fruits and vegetables for an hour or two. If interested, please contact Food Pantry Network Director Becky Whitlow, rwhitlow@dmarcunited.org or 515-277-6969 x14.
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 21

August 23

August 29
Havana Jazz Breakfast

August 30

September 13-26
13th Annual Hy-Vee Colossal Cookie Sale

September 19

September 21

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 materials by individuals or organizations. We gladly promote events and programs from partners that are connected to our mission, and related to the topic of hunger, poverty, interfaith relations, religious education or the arts. 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.
Seminary for Everyone
Wartburg Seminary offers "Seminary for Everyone" by which you (yes, you!) can take seminary-level courses from the comfort of your own home! Take a look at what's offered. Click here for more information.

Pastor Dwight DuBois (Des Moines resident and author of the soon-to-be-published book, The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life) is teaching one of the courses on making the connection between faith and life.
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 2014, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted more than 41,000 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 materials by individuals or organizations. We gladly promote events and programs from partners that are connected to our mission, and related to the topic of hunger, poverty, interfaith relations, religious education or the arts. 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.