Did You Know?

DES MOINES, IA (April 19, 2013)— Through a local “Challenge Hunger” campaign, self-proclaimed “ordinary man” Douglas M. Woods will provide 50 cents for every dollar donated to the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network from now through May 31, up to the first $25,000 in donations.

This challenge gift comes during a season when donations to the food pantry are historically low. Yet, the need for food assistance by families who struggle to make ends meet continues year-round.

“We are so grateful for Doug’s generosity,” said DMARC development director, Kristine Frakes. “We are hopeful that the “Challenge Hunger” campaign will also boost awareness that 30,000 of our Polk County neighbors require help in meeting their short-term food needs each year,” she continued.

When the $25,000 goal is reached and combined with Mr. Woods’ matching gift of $12,500, the results will help DMARC provide the equivalent of 50,000 emergency meals across Polk County; nearly half will be for children and youth.

Read more about Doug’s motivation for this hunger challenge on the West Des Moines Patch/Huffington Post website:
As Jesus Fed the Masses, ‘Community Philanthropist’ Prays for Same from Hunger Challenge.

How can you help? From now through May 31, 2013, donations to the DMARC Food Pantry Network that are noted as “Challenge Hunger” gifts will be matched 50 cents for every dollar, up to a total of $25,000 given. As part of the Challenge, your $10 becomes $15, $50 equals $75, and so on. During the “Challenge Hunger” campaign, a $10 gift will help DMARC provide 20 meals for a family.

Donate online or mail your “Challenge Hunger” donation to DMARC, 3816 36th Street, Suite 202, Des Moines IA 50310. Phone donations are also welcome at 515-277-6969. Thank you for your support!

The original deadline for the Challenge Hunger campaign was April 30 (now extended to May 31), with the initial goal to generate $20,000 in donations that would be matched with a $10,000 gift.

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 36 years of food assistance work, catalyzing fresh generations, and engaging new constituencies to further support a vision for a day when everyone in Polk County has enough to eat.

The DMARC Food Pantry Network is the largest in Iowa, made up of a centralized warehouse and 13 partnering distribution sites. The DMARC Food Pantry network helps meet short-term food needs when families do not have enough to eat. Once each month, families can receive a free, four-day supply of nutritionally balanced food. In 2012, DMARC assisted more than 33,000 individuals in the Greater Des Moines community; half of whom were children and youth.

DMARC is the acronym for the Des Moines Area Religious Council, 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.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kristine Frakes, Development Director, DMARC/MovetheFood
kfrakes@dmreligious.org, 515-277-6969

Category : Did You Know? &Media Room

Birdies for Charity is a fundraising program designed to give participants an opportunity to generate contributions based on the number of “birdies” made by Champions Tour players during The Principal Charity Classic®, May 28-June 2, 2013 at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines.

With 790 birdies made in last year’s tournament, Birdies for Charity raised nearly $296,000 for 92 local organizations serving youth populations.

Central Iowans have a great opportunity to support the Des Moines Area Religious Council and other programs benefiting young people by raising and contributing additional funds through Birdies for Charity.

DMARC will receive 100% of every donation collected on our behalf. When you make  a donation or pledge you are entered into a DMARC drawing for any-day-passes into the Principal Charity Classic tournament May 28-June 2. Drawing will be held on Thursday, May 23rd. Kids 15 years old and under get into the tournament FREE with a ticketed adult everyday.

To donate or pledge, print out this pledge form and send it via postal mail to us at 3816 36th Street, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA, 50310-4710; or click here to pledge online, or call us at 515-277-6969.

Thanks for your support!

Learn more on how you can help DMARC reach the $1,500 pledge goal.

Category : Did You Know?

Saturday morning volunteers are needed at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market from May 4 through October 26. DMARC’s  MovetheFood initiative in partnership with Meals for the Market, need booth workers to help get the donations of fresh produce and other great stuff to our warehouse and 13 partner food pantries.

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, please go to the Meals from the Market volunteer website. Thanks so much! It’s going to be a great summer!

Here are the Saturday dates volunteers are needed at the Downtown Farmer’s Market:

May 11 & 25

June 8 & 22

July 6 & 20

August 3, 17 & 31

September 14 & 28

October 12 & 26

Category : Did You Know? &Slideshow Feature &Upcoming Events

The Iowa Cubs is supporting the DMARC Food Pantry by inviting fans 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 for DMARC, but not for I-Cubs tickets.)

All dates are Sunday afternoon games which start at 1:05 p.m. Gates open at 11:35 a.m., volunteers are asked to arrive before that time. DMARC warehouse staff will have the donation area set up and will deliver food to the warehouse at the close.

NOTE: All Volunteer spots are filled – 5/1/2013.

If you and your friends, family, or group would like to sign up to help accept donations for one of these dates, simply send us an email with the date you’d like to volunteer. 

2013 I-Cubs Sunday home game dates are:

April 14

May 5, 19 & 26

June 2, 9 & 16

July 14

August 11 & 25

Category : Did You Know? &Featured Food Drive &Slideshow Feature &Upcoming Events

March 1 – April 30, 2013

How can you help?

From now through April 30, consider designating a DMARC food pantry gift or pledge as a match for the 2013 Feinstein Challenge. Your support is needed and greatly appreciated!

In 2012, the Feinstein Challenge resulted in nearly $42,000 in donations, or about 56,000 meals, designated for the DMARC Food Pantry. Our goal this year is to reach $52,500 in donations; this will provide 70,000 meals for hungry families in greater Des Moines.

Each gift or pledge received will help boost DMARC’ s portion of the Feinstein grant. Simply write the word “Feinstein” on your check or donation card, or for online gifts, designate “Feinstein” in the options of gift allocations.

If you prefer to pledge a future gift as a Feinstein match, or if you need additional information, contact Development Director Kristine Frakes at: 515-277-6969, ext. 13, or kfrakes@dmreligious.org.

Coming soon: Additional local match information to boost your gift dollars!

The $1 Million Feinstein grant is distributed to all eligible organizations proportionally, based on cash and food pledges and donations received as a part of the Feinstein Challenge. Feinstein’s past annual spring challenges to fight hunger have raised over $1 Billion.

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines.

Thank You for Your Generous Support!

Click here to download a poster to display in a public space.

Click here to download a bulletin insert for your congregation’s worship service.

Category : Did You Know?

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sarai Schnucker Rice, Executive Director, DMARC/MovetheFood
sarai@dmreligious.org, 515-277-6969

Rebecca Whitlow, Food Pantry Warehouse Director, DMARC/MovetheFood
rwhitlow@dmreligious.org, 515-277-6969

Wes Snook, Store Director, Hy-Vee Ankeny
1022director@hy-vee.com, 515-964-0900

Category : Did You Know? &Featured Food Drive &Media Room

DES MOINES, Iowa (January 15, 2013) – The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network has opened its newest pantry site in cooperation with Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) located at 1420 Mulberry Street. Pantry hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This site replaces the DMARC downtown pantry site formerly located at the Iowa Homeless Youth Center, 701 Grand Avenue.

The CISS pantry is one of two sites in the 13-site DMARC Food Pantry Network where participants may self-select items from within DMARC’s food distribution guidelines. DMARC launched its first consumer choice market-style food pantry in cooperation with the Center for Social Ministry and Epworth United Methodist Church in October 2012.

These newest DMARC pantry sites were designed with a grocery store format where clients can “shop” for foods from specific categories such as vegetables, fruits, grains, etc., selecting quantities based on family size and preference.

The DMARC market-style pantries were funded in part by the Telligen Community Initiative which initiates and supports, through research and programs, innovative and farsighted health-related projects aimed at improving the health, social well-being and educational attainment of society, where such needs are expressed.

“We are very grateful for Telligen’s funding support of our consumer choice sites that will enhance access to nutritional foods for pantry participants, while improving overall community health,” said DMARC executive director, Sarai Rice. “We’re especially excited to be able to give our clients the opportunity to make their own healthy choices.”

Research indicates that the market-style approach also encourages self-selection of items that a family is most likely to consume. This allows for sampling and exploration of “new” foods; reduces waste of finite resources; and helps preserve dignity for pantry consumers.

Families in need of food assistance may request a 4-day supply of food once each month. For a list of DMARC food pantry locations and hours call, 515-277-6969. To support the Food Pantry Network through donations or volunteering, call 515-277-6969 or visit www.movethefood.org.

MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 36 years of food assistance work, catalyzing fresh generations, and engaging new constituencies to further support a vision for a day when everyone in Polk County has enough to eat.

The DMARC Food Pantry Network consists of 13 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 nine sites in Des Moines. In 2012, the DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted about 33,000 people, nearly half who are children or youth.

DMARC is the acronym for the Des Moines Area Religious Council, an interfaith organization with a core membership of about 140 congregations from four faith traditions. Recipient of the 2010 Aurora Award from The Des Moines Register, DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.

The mission of Central Iowa Shelter and Services is to provide free shelter and meals to homeless adults regardless of physical or emotional conditions, and to facilitate their move toward self-sufficiency.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sarai Schnucker Rice, Executive Director, DMARC/MovetheFood
sarai@dmreligious.org, 515-277-6969

Category : Did You Know? &Item Of The Week &Media Room

Ways to Give… 

Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for the holidays or another special occasion of your friend or family member? DMARC has solved your gift-giving dilemma for that special someone:

• Purchase a Center for Social Ministry Calendar – this calendar contains all DMARC/MovetheFood events and giving schedules for congregations. It makes a great gift for your faith leader or congregational staff.
• January Thaw 2013 is approaching, give a gift registration to a course of choice for only $25. Two courses for $50. This is a tradition in adult education of different faith traditions and a great fellowship opportunity. Dates of this annual event are Janaury 8 & 15 or 10 & 17, 2013.

Financial gifts of help, can also be in the form of food, childcare assistance or payment of rent and utilities for a person in need. Here are some ideas:

• $25 will provide a family of four with a 4-day food supply
• $50 will purchase 98 pounds of bananas
• $125 will provide sweet potatoes for 270 families.
• $250 will provide peanut butter for 127 families.

To give the gift of help, go to www.dmreligious.org/donate or send your donation to DMARC, 3816 36th Street, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50310. DMARC will in turn acknowledge your donation and provide a gift card that you may pass on to the gift recipient.

Ways to Volunteer…

Can you help? We need volunteers too:

• Welcome people and answer calls during the holidays and winter break; our busiest time of the year for donations or requests for food.
• Begin a family tradition of collecting food at a “Sack Saturday” event at a local store, and exchange the normal gift giving time for delivering collected food items to the DMARC warehouse together.
• Start early on new year’s resolutions by volunteering at one of the 13 neighborhood food pantries.
• Count, sort and pack food or drive, load and unload the MovetheFood truck (or your truck) for our warehouse.

You may volunteer one time or create a regular schedule. It’s a fun way to make a difference! Visit our website: www.dmreligious.org/volunteer for more information.

Category : Did You Know?

The Center for Social Mininstry (CSM); an organization offering poverty awareness and justice education programming, is featuring CSM and 12 nonprofit organizations in the Des Moines area including DMARC!

This beautiful calendar and the nonprofit depictions are professionally done and would make fabulous holiday gifts for friends and family! It even includes many special dates of DMARC activities and designates the monthly congregational food pantry offering Sunday dates.

Calendars are now available to order and pick up in the DMARC office. Download and complete this order form and bring into the office to get your calendars before the new year!

Cost: $15.00 for one; $25.00 for two; $10.00 each for 3+. DMARC will receive 20% of the proceeds for calendars sold by DMARC, contact us at 515-277-6969 or info@dmreligious.org.

Category : Did You Know?

The Des Moines Buccaneers are hosting ”Babies on Ice,” Sunday, January 27, 2013, at their home game against the Lincoln Stars. Fans are invited to bring baby items — diapers size 5-6, including pull up trainers, wipes, and formula– to be donated to DMARC’s Food Pantry Network.

Everyone who donates gets entered into the Buccaneer’s drawing for a number of prizes.

The festivities include a half-time show, a nail biting “Baby Derby,” with five adorable little crawlers racing for the win. The baby derby will be emceed by announcers from Radio Group’s Star 102.5 FM channel. If you are interested in having your baby participate in the race, send an email to the Des Moines Buccaneers at: info@bucshockey.com.

The game starts at 3:05.

The rink is located at 7201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa.

Bring the whole family!

Category : Did You Know? &Upcoming Events