(Des Moines, IA) -- April was a record breaking month for the Des Moines Area Religious Council's food pantries. DMARC says they saw 19,305 people in April, a new record for the month and a 35-percent increase over a year ago.
DMARC says May has started strong too, noting on May 1st they served a record number of people in a single day, -more than 17-hundred.
All-time single day records were recently set for the DMARC Food Pantry Network on Nov. 1, 2022 (1529) and Tuesday, Jan. 3 2023 (1615). However, the margin of increase on May 2 of over 100 individuals is unprecedented compared to previous records.
“These are uncharted waters for us,” said DMARC CEO Matt Unger. “What we feared would be happening a year ago is now becoming a reality. Many of the people who are utilizing the DMARC Food Pantry Network right now have never done so before.”
DMARC says the records highlight an ongoing trend as more Iowans seek out food assistance in place of other supports to combat inflation.
DMARC is reminding residents of a May 13th food drive. On that day, residents can leave a healthy, in-date, non-perishable food item at their mailbox, and their letter carrier will collect it.
In 2019, over 66,000 pounds of food were contributed through Stamp Out Hunger®. You can make an online contribution to DMARC that will be credited to the Stamp Out Hunger® food drive at dmarcunited.org/stamp-out-hunger.