#Des Moines Area Religious Council

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Iowa Republicans are proposing sweeping changes to the state's food assistance program — including banning beneficiaries from buying grocery staples like meat, American cheese, or flour.

A bill co-sponsored by 39 Republican state legislators would limit those getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buying food on a more restrictive list from a separate program intended for pregnant women and children.

SNAP recipients wouldn't be able to buy a variety of foods, including white grain bread, buns with added nuts or seeds, white rice, pasta sauce, canned fruits or soups, baked beans, cheese slices, butter, or flour.

They would instead be limited to foods approved for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

The foods people can purchase in the WIC program are much more restrictive than those allowed in SNAP. That's because WIC is designed to complement SNAP, and is meant to provide necessary nutrition specifically for — as the name suggests — pregnant women, new mothers, and infants, according to Michelle Book, the president and CEO of Food Bank of Iowa.

WIC is "not designed for people that rely on SNAP benefits to make ends meet," Book told Insider.

Book said the proposed changes would put an "additional burden on people that are food insecure" and are part of an ongoing push by state legislators to cut back on benefits.

"Year after year, the legislature wants to tear down SNAP benefits for the state of Iowa. So this isn't new to us, " Book said.

But she said this bill is "one of the most egregious attempts we've seen over the last many years."

The Des Moines Area Religious Council, an interfaith organization, also slammed the bill as a "punitive policy that will do nothing to improve the health and nutrition of Iowans, but rather be a detriment."

The bill would provide $1 million for the state's Double Up Food Bucks program but would reduce the number of people who qualify for SNAP benefits and also force those who are part of the state's Medicaid expansion to work at least 20 hours a week.

The Iowa Republicans say the money spent on SNAP could be used more efficiently elsewhere.

"It's these entitlement programs," said Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, who is a co-sponsor on the bill, according to local outlet KCCI. "They're the ones that are growing within the budget and are putting pressure on us being able to fund other priorities."

The bill is currently being reviewed by the state legislature's Health and Human Services committee.

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Moral Mondays - How many roadblocks to access food are enough?

MORAL MONDAYS IOWA Monday, January 30 12 – 12:45 PM  Iowa Statehouse, Room 305*, and online How many roadblocks to access food are enough? Luke Elzinga, Des Moines Area Religious Council Kelli Soyer, Common Good Iowa HF3 – known as the SNAP bill – creates numerous callous and unnecessary hoops folks with food insecurity must jump through to feed themselves and their families. Join us for…

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Dueling Iowa food pantry networks face a $500,000 ultimatum

Dueling Iowa food pantry networks face a $500,000 ultimatum

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/EuroJournal The Des Moines City Council will vote to rescind $500,000 to the metro’s two largest nonprofit food assistance networks — Food Bank of Iowa and the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) — if they fail to resolve a contract dispute by Dec. 31. Yes, but: If the two groups meet the deadline, they will get an extra $100,000 between them, according to a memo…

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DMARC food pantries break single-day record of customers : Inside US

DMARC food pantries break single-day record of customers : Inside US

The Des Moines Area Religious Council food pantry network just set a record. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, DMARC served its highest number of customers in one day. But no one is celebrating.“Food is expensive right now these days. We can’t even afford to buy it,” said customer Felicia Lozano.She is thankful for the Urbandale food pantry. After the Federal food assistance program called SNAP was reduced…

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Eye-Opening Day

By Neah McGovern (YLI ‘21), Senior at Bondurant-Farrar HIgh School and Current Peer Mentor

(Neah, pictured on the bottom right corner, volunteering with fellow YLI participants and peer mentors at The Hall)

This day is hands down one of my favorite days in the YLI program because it is such an eye-opening experience. When we toured the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) building and Central Iowa Shelter Services (CISS), it impacted me much more than I thought it would. I was aware that there were many people lacking resources in Central Iowa but hearing the actual number of people in need of assistance each month really carries a lot of weight.

One other thing that really surprised me was the gap between the poverty line and what was considered by United Way of Central Iowa to be a livable wage. I learned that, although many people do not qualify for SNAP or other forms of government assistance, they may still be struggling to provide food or other necessities for their families. This was something I had never considered before.

However, the day didn't just teach me about the lack of resources in Central Iowa. At every organization we visited, staff members not only informed us of the issues, but also provided ways students could help both the organizations and their own communities or schools. I learned about all kinds of volunteer opportunities that I hadn't even considered before, and I was surprised to learn how easy many of them were.

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For those who in need of assistance: food replacement and grant information can be found at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network and the Food Bank of Iowa are asking for monetary donations in order to buy perishable foods such as meats and dairy when their fridges regain power. People can donate online at foodbankiowa.org or dmarcunited.org.

The Iowa Region of the American Red Cross has also been providing items such as food, water, medical supplies and shelter for those in need. Josh Murray of the IRARC said they too prefer monetary donations, as it provides more flexibility to address specific needs. People can donate to disaster relief funds at redcross.org/donate, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information.

Des Moines' newly formed non-profit The Supply Hive has been distributing meals and will continue throughout the coming weeks. The organization is asking for monetary donations via Venmo, @TheSupplyHive, or Cash App, $TheSupplyHive. Physical donations, such as trays, cutlery, and cups can be donated and dropped off at Urban Dreams during business hours.

United Way of Central Iowa is accepting monetary donations that would quickly be directed towards recovery efforts at emergeunited.org. see also https://www.uweci.org/ways-to-give/donate/

source: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2020/08/15/derecho-storm-ways-des-moines-community-can-help-disaster-relief-efforts/5584812002/

Okay, I'm posting this here because this blog has a much bigger following than my main. This is the first time I've ever begged for reblogs instead of likes.

The morning of August 10th a massive storm called a derecho plowed through the midwest, devastating Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and the entire state of Iowa, which is where I live. Iowa was hit the worst. A derecho is basically the equivalent of a hurricane. Our highest recorded wind speed was 112mph.

1/3 of the state lost power, and almost 3 days later, roughly 400,000 people still don't have power. We have approximately 23 million acres of farmland, and approximately 10 million were destroyed by the storm. That's not good at all. Our crops are one of the state's main sources of economic development, and we lost so much.

The light green area inside the circle is all of our damaged crops. We lost a lot of silos and grain bins as well

Outside of our local news stations, there's barely any national media coverage on this. Ive only seen a couple, and the only ones I have seen weren't even that in that depth.

The above screenshot was from today(Aug. 12th, 2020) at 9pm CST. 2 days had passed before either of them wrote anything about it.

We have some cities that are either partly out of power or entirely out of power. One of the worst hit cities was even still recovering somewhat from a F4 tornado that went through it 2 years ago.

There's people stranded in their homes without food, power, gas and/or cell service. Please spread the word and let people know that we need help!

[iowamedia]

Community Coming Together To Feed Each Other During COVID-19 Pandemic

DES MOINES, Iowa – Food Banks across Iowa see increase in donations during coronavirus pandemic.

Prairie Meadows Casino Racetrack & Hotel donated 2,775 pounds of food to Des Moines Area Religious Council.

Prairie Meadows President and CEO Gary Palmer said, “We had a lot of perishable foods like eggs, milk and different products and we shared it and didn’t want it to go to waste.”

DMRAC…

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Get Revved Up: Here Are the Best and Worst Cities for Car Lovers

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

It’s often said that Americans have an obsessive love affair with the automobile. But if that’s true, then the romance seems to be speeding toward a rough and twisty stretch of road.

Self-driving cars are already on the roads in half a dozen states, and will eventually sweep the nation. Millennials are less likely to have a driver’s license than previous recent generations—hey, who needs to drive, when there’s Uber? Throw in increasing concerns about global warming and the ever-growing reliance on driving-unfriendly activities like texting, and it looks like the Era of the Automobile might just be coming to a close in the United States.

Can this high-octane marriage be saved?

Time to pump the brakes! In fact, last year, car dealers actually sold a record number of automobiles, more than 17 million. We’re still gaga about our cars. It’s just that our long-term affair is going through some flux. (It’s not you, it’s us.) More than ever, American cities are dividing into the automotive haves and have-nots: the places where wide open highways, beautiful drives, and crisp, fresh air make road trips a pleasure, and those where traffic, road rage, and abysmal drivers transform the simple act of commuting into a very special brand of hell.

So what are America’s best urban areas for folks who can’t wait to get behind the wheel, and those where residents should just fuhggeddaboutit and buy a bus pass instead? Realtor.com®’s data team set out to find the wheel truth.

Automobile aficionados “want to jump in the car with their family or friends and go on scenic drives. And maybe some open spaces where they can kick up the turbo,” says Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. “Car lovers will gravitate to those cities that provide a good network of streets and roads. And they want to avoid intense congestion.”

For Tesla and other electric car owners, plentiful charging stations are essential, he adds.

To determine the best and worst metros for car lovers, we calculated the following data for the 100 largest U.S. housing markets. (We only included two metros per state, for geographic diversity.) Our criteria:

Percentage of realtor.com single-family home listings with a garage, as well as the percentage that have a garage for three or more cars

Average number of vehicles per household

Rate of car ownership

Traffic fatalities (per capita)

Electric car sales by state (per capita)

Percentage of roads in “good condition”

Average number of hours spent in traffic

Number of automotive service technicians and mechanics (per capita)

Average price of unleaded gasoline

Average annual auto insurance rate by state

Got it? Let’s hit the road.

Best cities for car lovers

Claire Widman

1. Colorado Springs, CO

Average number of vehicles per household: 2 Average gas price per gallon: $2.24 Home listings with a three-car or larger garage: 12.9% Median home price: $371,000

For that special breed of American who equates road-tripping through breathtaking mountain roads with a religious experience, Colorado Springs is a pretty tough place to beat.

“We have an ever-changing landscape, beautiful weather for convertibles, so many great drives within an hour or two from Colorado Springs to experience,” says local real estate broker Brandon Renaud of The Innovation Group. “In the spring and summer, snowpacks melt off, and by May or June, you’ll start to see waterfalls coming off mountain passes.” And that’s when folks really fire up their engines.

With the Southern Rocky Mountains to the west, the Palmer Divide to the north, and high desert lands to the south, there are no shortage of fantastic drives. The biggest challenge may be keeping your eye on the road. For example, a road trip on the nearby Pikes Peak Highway will give you views from an altitude of 14,000 feet.

And why settle for just one car? Colorado has the second largest number of homes with a three-vehicle garage or larger.

“Multiple cars per family is not uncommon,” Renaud says. “Many clients also have four-wheelers, motorcycles, and hobby cars.”

2. Des Moines, IA

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.9 Average gas price per gallon: $2.33 Home listings with garage: 46.8% Median home price: $275,000

So you’ve had enough of your grueling, caffeine-fueled commute that should only take 20 minutes, but stretches into over an hour of grinding, bumper-to-bumper unpleasantness? Well, consider what your commute would be like in Des Moines. The average driver spends around seven hours in congestion … per year. Compare that with a whopping 104 hours in L.A.

What to do with all that extra time? We suggest a road trip. Situated right in the middle of the country, Des Moines offers wildly picturesque options in every direction (Mount Rushmore National Memorial is only one state and 650 miles away).

And if you’re in the mood for popcorn and a movie, try Valle Drive In. Built in 1948, it’s Iowa’s oldest drive-in movie theater, and one of just a handful left in the state, down from nearly 70 during their 1950s heyday. Double features offer a retro experience at a retro price.

3. Salt Lake City, UT

Average number of vehicles per household: 2 Average gas price per gallon: $2.39 Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,145 Median home price: $370,900

You can’t take a subway out to the Delicate Arch.

JTB Photo/UIG via Getty Images

This city is world-famous for Mormons, skiing, and 3.2% beer, but maybe it should be just as renowned for its car culture. There’s the Salt Lake City Utah International Auto Expo, where you’ll see more than 350 new cars and trucks, including the latest fab offerings from Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. And there are some of the most spectacular driving routes in the nation. Check out the Uinta Mountains, sandstone buttes that jut majestically into the air in Monument Valley, and the famed Delicate Arch, a stone formation in Arches National Park that is one of the world’s most celebrated geological features. The latter is so popular that it’s emblazoned on the state’s license plates.

“[Drivers] here like to get out on the interstate and put the pedal down on a Sunday afternoon and really take advantage of the open spaces,” says Jackson of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, whose members include dealers based in Salt Lake City.

It’s not uncommon for households to have three to five vehicles. Who can blame them, with the cost of car insurance being so low? And the lack of congestion is pretty sweet, too.

4. Richmond, VA

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.9 Average gas price per gallon: $2.13 Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,035 Median home price: $289,900

1968 Ford Torino Fastback

Manfred Schmid/Getty Images

To keep an old car going, you’ve got to take care of it. Good weather and stellar road quality—i.e., motorways that haven’t been pocked with potholes and rutted with cracks—don’t hurt, either. Richmond roads are blessedly free of such auto-destroying obstacles, which may be why the region is something of a hub for antique, vintage, and classic car collectors.

“Our state slogan is that ‘Virginia is for lovers,'” says Bob Richmon, a member of the Central Virginia Model T Club, adding that it ought to be: “Richmond is for car lovers.”

Their ardor is often on full display. “Anytime you drive an antique car here, people swarm you,” says Richmon, who owns five antique cars, including a 1911 Model T and a 1969 Mercedes Roadster. “You can’t go to a gas station and spend less than 25 minutes.”

Antique cars need a special registration to use a state’s roadways, and Virginia’s certification system is easier than most, says Fred Fann, president of the Car Club Council of Central Virginia. Fann has three registered antique vehicles of his own, including a 1968 Ford Torino. It helps that the city has a network of specialized auto shops to repair these older vehicles.

Best of all, when you take your antique out for a spin, you’re unlikely to hit much traffic. The metro doesn’t even rank in the top 100 for congestion.

5. Dayton, OH

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.8 Average gas price per gallon: $2.24 Households with three to five vehicles: 19.7% Median home price: $139,900

Automobiles are in Dayton’s blood. The first battery-operated car ignition was developed here 106 years ago, by Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company. Heck, even the country’s first speeding ticket was issued in Dayton in 1904—but it did nothing to slow Daytonians from falling head over heels in love with cars, and everything about ’em.

There are more car expos in Dayton than in just about any other city of comparable size. Among them is the Dayton Concours d’Elegance, a show that spotlights everything from early 1900s models to classics from the 1960s. Swing by the British Transportation Museum, where you can see more than 40 historical British vehicles, including a 1936 Austin Twenty Mayfair limousine, or America’s Packard Museum, named after the now-defunct luxury car maker.

“For over 100 years, the automotive industry has played a large part in the city of Dayton, and in turn, we’ve made our mark on the history of the automobile,” says Kenny Brightman III, founder of Dayton Cars and Coffee, the local outpost of a global network of car enthusiast confabs. It attracts about 500 to 700 antique, muscle, and classic cars ’most every weekend.

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Rounding out the top 10 best metros for car fanatics were Denver; Wichita, KS; Boise, ID; Raleigh, NC; and Virginia Beach, VA.

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Worst cities for car lovers

Claire Widman

While owning a car is supposed to make your life easier, in these bottom-ranked metros, owners find themselves wondering if it’s really worth the hassle. Time that you could spend relaxing with your loved ones is instead wasted in traffic jams. You find a parking spot on the street—and another car zooms in to steal it. Cue a spike in blood pressure. And did we mention those sky-high insurance premiums?

1. New York, NY

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.2 Average gas price per gallon: $2.62 Average number of hours spent in traffic congestion: 89.4 Median home price: $471,000

New York didn’t just get our top spot, it smacked it over the head and ran away with it. It ranked toward the bottom on just about every stat. New Yorkers spend five times as much time in traffic congestion as fellow drivers in Colorado Springs. That may be why so many folks have opted to ditch their own motor conveyances and opt for cabs, public transit, Uber, bikes, or even their own two feet.

“A car isn’t a priority for most of the people who chose to live in New York,” says Gary Malin, president of the real estate brokerage Citi Habitats. “There are so many other ways to get around.”

New residents often feel liberated by leaving their cars—and the related expenses, which quickly add up—in the rearview mirror. Those who can’t part with their cars might be in for a shock. A parking spot can cost residents anywhere from a few hundred bucks to more than $1,000 a month.

“Garage costs here are like rent in other cities,” Malin says.

2. New Orleans, LA

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.6 Average gas price per gallon: $2.12 Home listings with a three-car or larger garage: 1.3% Median home price: $275,000

Not a great street for a car in New Orleans.

jcarillet/iStock

New Orleans is known for living it up. Thirsty for an alcoholic beverage? No need to find parking near Bourbon Street when you can just pull up to the nearest drive-thru daiquiri stand and grab a go-cup. Yes, it’s a thing in the Big Easy. But don’t be tempted to start the party before you get back home. The state suffers from a high rate of traffic fatalities, and New Orleans runs the table in drunk-driving accidents.

Plus, owning a car in New Orleans isn’t cheap. The average annual car insurance premium in Louisiana is $1,914. (Compare that with $1,215 in neighboring Arkansas. Ouch!)

3. San Francisco, CA

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.7 Average gas price per gallon: $3.12 Roads of good quality: 8% Median home price: $855,000

Not only is San Francisco expensive for car owners, some of the streets are less than ideal for driving.

tobiasjo/iStock

San Francisco has its fair share of bucket-list drives. Nothing but you and your car as you take in all the sights and vineyards along the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley. Or do a slower version of the “Bullitt” chase scene down twisty Lombard Street.

But be ready to pay a fortune—in housing and at the pump. The average price for a gallon of unleaded gas in San Francisco is $3.12. Thank California Gov. Jerry Brown for signing into law a 12-cent gas tax increase that goes into effect in November. (The national average is just $2.34.)

The tax will go toward funding road improvements and congestion issues—something San Francisco sorely needs, since it got dinged in our ranking for its terrible road quality. And despite residents’ eco-friendly leanings, it also took a hit for extremely high levels of congestion, with only New York and L.A. ranking worse.

If you forgo your own car, you’re in luck. San Francisco has an extensive public transportation system, including municipal bus and rail, the Golden Gate Ferry, and those eternal tourist favorites, trolley cars. Plus, car-sharing services Uber and Lyft are both based here.

4. Miami, FL

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.6 Average gas price per gallon: $2.39 Average number of hours spent in traffic congestion: 64.8 Median home price: $385,000

Miami drivers get a bad rap. Over the past decade, the city has topped lists for having the worst—as well as the rudest—drivers. So don’t be shocked if someone flips you the bird while you’re behind the wheel. Take deep breaths!

The metro area didn’t get any love on our list, either. Miami has a triple-threat combination of high car insurance premiums, congestion, and a low car ownership rate.

But the region does have a few prime vicarious attractions for auto lovers to enjoy. You could grab a ticket and join up to 46,000 racing fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway to watch the final NASCAR race, where the season champion is crowned every year.

5. Baton Rouge, LA

Average number of vehicles per household: 1.7 Average gas price per gallon: $2.13 Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,914 Median home price: $229,500

If you think congestion is something that only big cities deal with, then you haven’t been to Baton Rouge.

When Dennis Harper, 51, moved to here from Texas three years ago to open a performance and muscle-car repair shop, the clogged roads caught him off guard. “I’ve spent a ton of time in Houston,” he says. “And the traffic in Baton [Rouge] is equal or worse. It’s just terrible.”

Baton Rouge drivers spend about 36 hours in congestion every year—more than drivers in Denver, Nashville, and Sacramento.

The area is home to a thriving stock car and muscle-car scene, Harper says. But the costs of everyday driving are steep.

“To register my two cars in Louisiana, it cost four or five times as much” as Texas, he says. “And their car insurance is twice as much.”

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The rest of the bottom 10 metros are Boston; Rochester, NY; Grand Rapids, MI; Los Angeles; and Jackson, MS.

Data sources: realtor.com, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Automobile Association (AAA), Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, Inrix, insuranceQuotes.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nielsen, and TRIP.

The post Get Revved Up: Here Are the Best and Worst Cities for Car Lovers appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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[iowafed]

Help feed our Federal Workers

Help feed our Federal Workers

United Way of Central Iowa, in partnership with Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC,) has launched Feeding Our Federal Workers, an initiative for federal employees in central Iowa who are currently affected by the partial government shutdown.

Federal employees throughout central Iowa, including those at the Des Moines International Airport, are eligible to receive food from a mobile food…

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Everyone Can Do Something

By Felix Gbagbo, current YLI student and sophomore at Roosevelt High School

(pictured above, from left to right, Lainy Potratz, Bryn Inserra and Felix. Photo bombing in the back, Maya McDaniels and Training Tarlue)

Growing up my family never really had it easy. Food stamps and financial aid from the government was a normal thing. But I still had a roof over my head and that is what I am grateful for. I’ve always loved giving back, not for the recognition but because I know it’s going to benefit whoever received it.

I did not know that there were organizations combating poverty like what Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) and Central Iowa Shelter and Services (CISS) are doing. It feels good to know that there are people who really care. I was really fascinated by what CISS is doing to change lives. I wish more people put themselves in a homeless person’s shoes. How would you feel, standing outside in 20 degrees weather, hungry? And when you go in somewhere to warm-up, they kick you out… Just meditate on that. I can’t stand in 20 degrees weather for less than 1 minute without running back inside.

We can help these non-profits organizations by donating a little bit of money every month. Sarah Trone Garriott, Coordinator of Interfaith Engagement, said that DMARC can purchase 30 boxes of cereal with $25 compared to 7-8 that we can buy at the store with $25. Plus, it’s feeding more people who lack enough food. Also volunteering is a great thing to do! It’s hard but people should always remember it’s supporting a good cause.

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Looking at When Resources Lack through a Peer Mentor Lens

By Rachel Current, YLI class of 2019 and current peer mentor

I got my mug of hot chocolate from my care package and was ready for this day’s experience. This has always been one of my favorite days of the program, “When Resources are Lacking.” Throughout the day, through our devices, we were able to explore the needs in our community and why it matters to us, as people and as leaders.

As peer mentors, we started the day with an activity centered around prioritizing needs. We asked the students to imagine that they were on a sinking lifeboat and they had to toss half of their items that they had out of the boat to make it to a nearby island. They had to choose out of the necessities what they could live without. In this “resources lacking” mindset, we zoomed to hear from Erik next.

Erik continued the storytelling development we learned last month. Three of the key takeaways were: 

1) “What do I want my audience members to do?”

2) Fear is good!

3) Show up, practice, achieve excellence. 

Throughout the rest of the day, all of the speakers we heard from demonstrated these important storytelling components. Before lunch, we heard from a panel of leaders in the community who help fight insecurity within the Greater Des Moines community. We heard from Louis Fountain about how he came to be in his position, the services the Des Moines Publics School District provides for those in need, and that we should think outside of the box to make solutions to the problems that we are passionate to solve. Emily Osweiler told us why the YMCA Supportive Housing follows Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how the YMCA does its best to fulfil what is needed. To round off the morning, Sarah Trone Garriott with Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC Food Pantry Network), told us about food insecurity and why it’s important to really understand an issue so that you can find the right solution. After lunch, Anne Bacon of IMPACT led us through a simulation about the real cost of living and what people need to earn just to meet their basic needs. 

My favorite part about all of these presentations was at the end, when each speaker would challenge us with a call to action. They told us about volunteer opportunities that support their missions and ones that are still possible during this pandemic. 

As a student, I remember feeling inspired after my session of “When resources lack.” All of the community leaders we heard from were very impactful, making me want to do something to make a positive impact. I am especially interested in food insecurity, so I searched for food pantries near me and found one. I’ve now been volunteering there for over a year and am so happy that I can give back to my community in this way. The best advice I can give to this class: just start. There are so many ways to help and even if you don’t quite know what your passion is yet, the best way to find out is to explore.

[gdmli]

Community Connect Acts of Service during COVID-19

The Community Connect Class of 2020 finished our last few sessions online, but a global pandemic did not stop our small groups from completing an act of service for the community. While many of our groups had to change our initial plans, many of us found creative ways we could give our time and talents while practicing social distancing.

It has been inspiring to see how in the midst of all of this chaos each of our groups found different ways that we could support the Des Moines community during these unprecedented times.

Maybe after reading through what some of our small groups did for their projects, you will be inspired for how you can give back during COVID-19.

Group One

(Katie Roth, San Wong, Kelly Marble, Amal Barre, Kelly Olson)

One of the group members, Amal Barre, facilitates an after-school program for youth, as a part of her job. She was putting together care packages for each of her students with treats and some fun activities that they can do at home. As a group they wanted to support her and her families by purchasing, granola bars, colored pencils and fruit snacks to add to the care packages.

Group Four

(Mee Yang-Lee, Michael Morain, Lisa Butler, Krystal Kruse, LB Lyons, Mallory Riesberg)

With nursing homes and retirement communities closed to visitors, it is a lonely time to be a senior. This group wrote cards with positive messages for residents at Woodlands Creek Retirement Community in Urbandale.  

Group Six

(Eric Idehen, Elizabeth Presutti, Ivon Mihura, Danielle Propst, Megan Winge)

Before COVID-19 brought volunteering in person to a halt, group six went to Lutheran Services of Iowa to assist refugees with studying for their citizenship and naturalization tests.  While in quarantine, they are exploring ways that they can virtually support the staff of Youth Emergency Shelter Services (YESS).

Group Eight

(Natali Justiniano Pahl, Mike Wilson, Emily Brahnsen, Laura Plumb, Nicole Schlief)

This group decided to be advocates for the causes they care about in the community. They identified organizations and wrote advocacy letters in support of five local non-profits to elected representatives.

During COVID-19, many non-profits are in need of policy changes or additional funding. It was something they could all do remotely and it felt especially important at this time when funding sources are getting cut, priorities are shifting, and the general world is changing.

American Civil Liberties Union

Food Bank of Iowa

Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry

One Iowa

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

If you are sitting at home and wondering what you can do to help reach out to non-profits that you support to see if there is anything that they need you to advocate for on their behalf.

Our groups may not have been able to be together during this time, but each group in their own way was able to show up for the community in their own way.

[gdmli]

YLI explores topics of poverty in Des Moines

Daylan Carney YLI’19

On December 6, YLI students and mentors spent the day exploring the topic of “When Resources Lack.” We had the opportunity to hear from a number of community leaders and visit several organizations that are working to address issues of poverty in our community. 

We kicked off the day with a presentation and activity by Anne Bacon, the Executive Director of Impact Community Action Partnership. She talked about poverty in the local area and around the world. This was very eye opening for the students because it really put a lot of things they probably don’t think of on an average day into perspective, such as how much basic necessities really cost. Groups went through a budgeting activity to try to make ends meet with a limited budget, and found it to be very challenging. This activity and presentation really set the stage for the rest of the day. 

Our next stops were to DMARC (Des Moines Area Religious Council) and CISS (Central Iowa Shelter and Services). At DMARC, an organization that manages a food pantry network across the area, students listened to ways they could help out their community by donating to DMARC and volunteering their time to help organize the food pantry. Many people were surprised to learn that it is more effective to give cash donations than canned goods due to the fact that DMARC can order canned goods at a much lower cost than the average person. We were also shown examples of donations DMARC has received that were opened or expired by many years - this taught us to be thoughtful with our donations and to think about only donating what we ourselves would actually eat or use. 

Then, the students learned through a tour of CISS that it is the largest homeless shelter in Iowa, and that it also provides case management, health and wellness programming and educational opportunities, in addition to a clothing pantry and a place to get warm meals. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities at CISS, including organizing donations and serving meals. 

Our next stop was lunch at the Hall, which was a great example of social entrepreneurship and corporate responsibility. Nick Kuhn, of Justice League of Food,  spoke about his experiences with helping people who are experiencing homelessness get job training and work experience by working at the Hall.  It was very neat to hear the stories Nick told and the true compassion he has for helping people. We got to eat amazing food like fish and chips, frenchies, spring rolls, and more, and got to take a tour of the kitchen. A lot of students said they would like to come back with their families to eat again. 

After lunch the students made their way to the Wilkie House where they were able to learn about what the organization does and how it benefits the community. The mission of the Willkie House is to develop character and esteem in young people through the promotion of academics, social skill building, health and recreation. The Willkie House primarily serves youth of color but is open to all. Students also learned that the Wilkie House needs lots of volunteers and there are many opportunities to be a volunteer there. The students then got to get their hands dirty with a service project of their own. Whether that was painting, organizing the book shelf, laying down mulch for the playground, or setting up the computers they had lots of fun and many students expressed interest in volunteering again in the future. 

Overall, the students gained a lot of knowledge on the topic of When Resources Lack, learned about organizations doing something about it, and gained ideas of how they can help address the issues themselves. It was interesting throughout the day to see how the organizations intersected, for example Nick at the Hall worked with people at CISS, and Impact has a DMARC Food Pantry in their building. It takes a lot of collaboration to help address this complex issue and we now all understand it a little better.