DMARC food pantry network sees record visits as SNAP benefits lapse

By Lisa Rossi

Des Moines Area Religious Council set a single-day record Nov. 3 for the most people assisted, as November SNAP benefits were not delivered over the weekend due to the government shutdown. With 2,494 unique individuals assisted, this was the busiest day on record in the 50-year history of the network of Des Moines metro pantries. 

On Oct. 31, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fund SNAP benefits with emergency funds and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Nov. 3 it would provide partial payments to households who use SNAP, from a roughly $4.5 billion contingency fund. Groups suing the USDA said the delayed partial benefits did not comply with the court order, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Trump backtracked on social media Nov. 4 saying benefits would not be funded until the government reopens, but the USDA said in court filings late Nov. 4 it would continue with a plan to distribute partial benefits, the Capital Dispatch reports.

Of the people assisted at DMARC Nov. 3, 1 in 3 were currently enrolled in SNAP, according to a news release. 

“I want everyone in our community to know that we are doing everything in our power to ensure the support you and your family need right now,” DMARC CEO Kathy Underhill said in a prepared statement. “To everyone in the Des Moines metro that isn’t sure where their next meal will come from: our doors are open and we will do everything we can to make sure you don’t leave without food.”

Other local food pantries have reported record demand as well, KCCI reports. 

Food pantries across the state and metro, regularly see an increase in traffic during November as the needs of families increase with holiday breaks, household expenses with changing seasons, and higher costs in utilities or other emergency expenses such as illness or car or household repairs.

SNAP benefits are provided to 42 million Americans each month, including 131,000 Iowans.

Meanwhile, donations and support for food banks and other food assistance are pouring in from Central Iowa businesses and other organizations.

Big Grove Brewery and the Big Grove for Good Foundation announced it will donate a total of $12,000 across three Midwestern food banks including HACAP in Eastern Iowa, the Food Bank of Iowa in Central Iowa and the Food Bank for the Heartland. 

Hy-Vee is donating $125,000 to help feed local families. Hy-Vee is donating $100,000 to its Feeding America partner food banks across its region. In addition, Hy-Vee has donated $25,000 to DoorDash’s new initiative to waive delivery and service fees for customers who receive food assistance benefits. 

Fareway will match all monetary contributions for nearby food banks or pantries in value throughout the month of November. Customers can also purchase pre-bagged, SNAP-eligible food items at any Fareway location. These bags will be distributed directly to local food banks or pantries near each store. Shoppers may also choose to donate individual food items of their choice. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will donate two full truckloads of food – nearly 72,000 pounds – to Iowans facing hunger across Food Bank of Iowa’s 55-county service region.

The Polk County board of supervisors voted Thursday to allocate $1 million in funding for food assistance programs in Polk County, including the Food Bank of Iowa, DMARC and possibly others.

Hope Ministries is taking reservations for Thanksgiving meals. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, Hope Ministries will deliver free turkey dinners to people across the Greater Des Moines area.

Veridian Credit Union, with branches across Iowa and the Midwest, has pledged $100,000 to organizations and events that are fighting local food insecurity across Iowa; Omaha, Neb. and Eden Prairie, Minn. The funds will be divided among area food banks, local pantries and events or programs offering free Thanksgiving meals.

Meals from the Heartland announced that it will be sharing one million additional meals with Iowa food banks effective immediately. Meals from the Heartland has already shared over 1.5 million meals to Iowans in need this year.  That number compares to just under one million meals shared in Iowa in 2024.