The DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry is open to everyone. There are no income or residency requirements, and no appointment is needed to visit. No one is ever turned away.
It helps to bring a photo ID when you come, but you won't be turned away if you don't have one.
Each household can receive a three-day supply of food once per month at no cost. After using the monthly supply, visitors can come back as often as they need to pick up "Anytime" items.
Each visit provides a three-day supply of food based on household size. This pantry follows the Des Moines Public School district calendar for winter closures (not late starts), so it's a good idea to check before making the trip during cold-weather months. National holidays and severe weather can also cause closures. Visitors have noted that carts are available if you live within walking distance.
The pantry aims to stock items you'd find at a local grocery store. You can expect non-perishable staples like canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meat, dry and canned beans, peanut butter, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, soup, and whole grain cereal. Fresh produce, frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, dairy products like milk and eggs, and bread are commonly available too. Non-food items like personal hygiene products, formula, baby food, diapers, and baby wipes are also distributed.
This is a client-choice pantry, so you shop for your own items with help from a volunteer. Volunteers walk you through how the pantry works and answer your questions as you make your selections. Carts are available for visitors who live within walking distance.
DMARC offers a no-cost food delivery service for people in the greater Polk County area who have trouble getting to a pantry in person. There are no income restrictions or delivery fees. To place an order, call 1-833-DMARC-20 (1-833-362-7220) Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. All deliveries are made on Thursdays.
DMARC also runs a mobile food pantry that visits congregate living sites and community locations around Des Moines for people who can't make it to a physical pantry location. You can find the current mobile pantry schedule at dmarcunited.org/get-help/mobile.
You can make a monetary donation online at dmarcunited.org/donate or by mailing a check payable to DMARC at 100 Army Post Rd., Des Moines, IA 50315.
Food donations can be dropped off at the DMARC warehouse at 100 Army Post Rd, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Use the East entrance and donation doors located off Chaffee Rd. Call (515) 277-6969 and press 5 for the warehouse with any questions. The most-needed items include peanut butter, canned fruit (in its own juice), whole grain cereal, canned and dry beans, pasta, rice, and soup. Non-food donations are also welcome, especially formula, baby food, diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6), hygiene products, and laundry detergent.
You can also contribute through DMARC's Red Barrel program by dropping non-perishable food into the red barrels found at local grocery stores.
Volunteers are needed year-round. New volunteers can get started by completing the online application at Volgistics. Returning volunteers can find open shifts and track hours at volgistics.com/vicnet/775770.
Groups and organizations can fill out the group volunteer interest form. DMARC recommends attending a volunteer orientation before your first shift in the pantry. Orientations are offered every other Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at DMARC. Visit the volunteer page or contact the Volunteer and Outreach Manager to learn more about available opportunities.
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