Des Moines Holiday Boutique Partners with DMARC to Combat Record-Breaking Food Insecurity
Tuesday | Oct. 15, 2024
DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct 15, 2024) — The Des Moines Holiday Boutique, hosted by Marketplace Events, is set to make a significant impact on local food insecurity this year through its partnership with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). The event, scheduled for November 15-17 at the Iowa Events Center, will feature the “Fill a Cupboard for the Holidays” initiative, addressing an urgent community need.
“As demand at local food pantries has steadily increased in the last two years, we fully expect to again, assist more than 70,000 of our neighbors in Des Moines before the year is over,” says Matt Unger, Chief Executive Officer of DMARC. “This partnership with the Holiday Boutique comes at a crucial time, allowing us to support more people during the holiday season.”
The “Fill a Cupboard for the Holidays” initiative offers a simple yet impactful way for attendees to contribute. For $30, shoppers can provide the equivalent of one meal for a family of four. To facilitate donations, QR codes will be prominently displayed throughout the event, linking directly to the donation portal. Additionally, DMARC will host an information booth where visitors can learn more about the organization's work and make contributions.
“By integrating this charitable initiative into our event, we're offering our attendees a meaningful way to give back while they shop,” said Marc Gary, Show Manager of the Des Moines Holiday Boutique. “It's an opportunity to impact local families struggling with food insecurity directly.”
The Des Moines Holiday Boutique also aims to provide Iowans with the opportunity to shop locally this holiday season. By featuring 180 local vendors, the event creates a unique opportunity for residents to support small businesses and artisans in their community.
“When you shop local, you're not just buying a product; you're investing in your neighbors and strengthening the fabric of our community,” explains Gary. “Every purchase at the Holiday Boutique helps create jobs, keeps money circulating in our local economy, and preserves the unique character of Des Moines.”
This focus on local small businesses, plus partnering with DMARC, transforms the Holiday Boutique into a powerful force for positive change in the Des Moines area, allowing attendees to make a dual impact with their holiday shopping.
Event Details:
Dates: November 15-17, 2024
Location: Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Admission: Adults $12 online (pre-purchase), $14 at the door; Children 12 and under free
For more information about the Holiday Boutique, including a full list of local vendors, visit desmoinesholidayboutique.com.
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ABOUT MARKETPLACE EVENTS
Marketplace Events creates vibrant expositions connecting enthusiasts with experts, products and services in dynamic face-to-face environments. The company produces more than 70 consumer shows in North America including home, garden and holiday shows. The 70+ combined events, in 37 markets, currently attract 22,000 exhibitors, 2 million attendees and another 4 million unique web visitors annually. The company produces some of the most successful and longest-running shows in North America, including market-leading shows in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal—some of which have thrived in their markets for more than 75 years, for a full list of upcoming events visit www.marketplaceevents.com.
ABOUT THE DES MOINES AREA RELIGIOUS COUNCIL
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) is an interfaith organization with a mission of working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community.
The DMARC Food Pantry Network consists of 14 permanently placed pantry sites, multiple Mobile Food Pantry locations, and a home delivery program. The DMARC Food Pantry Network is committed to providing healthy food options and fresh produce to the people we assist. Once per calendar month, people can select a three-day supply of food from any one of our partner food pantries, and AnyTime Items are available whenever our partner pantries are open.
DMARC could never do the work of feeding so many people without the partnership of many, diverse faith communities. Over 100 faith communities from across the religious spectrum support DMARC with cash support, donations of food, and service. Because we can do so much more together than we can on our own, DMARC has a commitment to helping our faith communities learn about one another and build relationships.
