After five years of planning, the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) opened its new offices and food pantry warehouse Jan. 20 in the former homeless shelter at 1435 Mulberry St. The 6,000-square-foot building, renovated by Munro Construction Co., is nearly four times bigger than DMARC’s previous site at 36th Street near Douglas Avenue.
It can store a 12-week supply of food, up from a two-week inventory at the former location, allowing buyers to stock up when prices are low and save an estimated $250,000 a year. DMARC’s Food Pantry Network, the cornerstone of the group’s MovetheFood initiative, includes 13 food pantry sites and several community partners.
As DMARC settles in, the Civic Music Association prepares for a planned Feb. 1 move into the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC) Firehouse down the street at 900 Mulberry St. Civic Music leaders say the renovated Firehouse offers a performance venue, room for collaboration, and opportunities for new events and alliances. “We are excited about potential partnerships with (the Social Club) and the overall artistic and creative energy of the space,” says Carrie Clogg, Civic Music’s executive director.
