DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines is welcoming a new DMARC food pantry to the city after a ribbon-cutting ceremony held early Thursday morning.
The new pantry, known as DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry, will be located at DMARC's headquarters.
The latest addition marks DMARC's 15th food pantry partnership across central Iowa. The pantry will be ran brick-and-mortar style by DMARC staff.
"[We're] really trying to mirror how people shop," said DMARC CEO Matt Unger. "You know, in general, you've got your big shopping trip you make once a month and then kind of get things as you need them for meals and what not."
DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry is located on a main bus line, designed to be a more accessible stop for Des Moines residents. The next closest DMARC partner food pantry is located more than 3 miles away, Unger noted in a press release.
The food pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., as well as Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
DMARC Southside Food Pantry is also open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
The new facility comes as DMARC recently saw a record-breaking number of visitors receive assistance in August.
With 15 food pantry partnerships, a mobile food pantry and 2 food warehouses, DMARC is determined to help those who need it.
“The need for food pantries in our community has never been greater,” said Unger in a statement.