Telling the Story of Hunger Through Data

Overview
Organizer  |  Des Moines Area Religious Council
Subjects Covered  |   Technology/Innovation - Advocacy - Data Driven Reporting
Target Audience  |  Feeding Organizations - Change Makers - Organizations looking to incorporate data more

Summary
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network will present two data-gathering tools and show how they have been used to tell the story of hunger in Greater Des Moines to funders and change makers.

First, DMARC will present its data visualization dashboard, showing participants what the tool is capable of, how it maps food insecurity in Greater Des Moines, and how the tool has been used as an advocacy tool with legislators and other change makers.

Second, DMARC will present its data that has been gathered through the Food Pantry 2.0 pilot project - showing specifically how over time clients have moved toward healthier options when incentives are provided for choosing healthy food.

Panelists
Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice | Executive Director, Des Moines Area Religious Council
Daniel Beck | Food Pantry Network Assistant Director, Des Moines Area Religious Council

About the Organizations
Des Moines Area Religious Council
The Des Moines Area Religious Council is an interfaith organization with a core membership of over 125 congregations from four faith traditions. Recipient of the 2012 LIVE UNITED Advocacy Award from the United Way of Central Iowa, DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.

DMARC manages a Food Pantry Network consisting of 14 separate partnering food pantry sites, a Mobile Food Pantry, two food warehouses, and numerous community supporters. The DMARC Food Pantry Network is health-based and is the largest food pantry network in Iowa. Food pantry sites are located in Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines.