Posted on July, 29 2021

The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Mobile Food Pantry is on-site at DART Central Station every Thursday in the drive behind platforms M and N at DART Central Station. It is open from 4-6 p.m. Beginning August 3, 2021, riders will also be able to access a DMARC Mobile Pantry at Merle Hay Mall on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. Merle Hay Mall is accessible by the following DART routes and services: Local Routes 5, 14, 16 and 50 and DART Flex Connect.

The Animal Rescue League (ARL) mobile pet food pantry joins the DMARC pantry at DART Central Station once per month. The ARL pantry will be at DART on the first, non-holiday Thursday of each month. The remaining 2021 dates for the ARL pantry to be at DART are as follows:

  • August 5
  • September 2
  • October 7
  • November 4
  • December 2

DART is proud to partner with DMARC since March 2018 to bring their mobile pantries to downtown Des Moines. DMARC identifies areas of the community to locate this pantry to help bridge gaps in accessibility to food or other goods and necessities. It chose DART to help serve people who live and work downtown, or those who live in other underserved regions who are able to access DART Central Station using public transportation. 

How it works

There are no income restrictions or requirements to receive food from the mobile food pantry. When you arrive, you will go through a short intake process before receiving your food.

  • Please bring a photo ID for all adult members of your household, and some other form of ID for all children in your household.


What you can receive

Once per calendar month, you may receive a 3-day supply of food, which is measured by the size of your family. There are also daily food items available to anyone, any time the pantry is open.

DMARC sets up the pantry at multiple different sites each month. View a full calendar of events for the shuttle, and learn more about the pantry and the services DMARC provides by visiting www.dmarcunited.org/food/mobile/.

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