Portrait of a
Food Pantry Visitor
FY2024 | July 1, 2023 -June 30, 2024
DATA, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND
DISPARITIES REPORT
We are often asked what a “typical” visitor to a food pantry looks like. We assist
people of all races, genders, ages, incomes, and education. This report aims to
highlight the stark disparities that exist in every part of Greater Des Moines among
people who use food pantries.
These disparities are the direct result of historical policies rooted in racism, sexism,
and classism. They are not happenstance.
With this report, we hope to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations where
there is shared mission and goal. We hope to create road maps that address barriers
to receiving assistance in a different and more targeted way. We hope to improve
our own services and shed light on the bad faith arguments we hear so often that
aren’t based in fact. And most importantly, we hope to show the community the
situations those in need of food assistance are really facing, with real data that we
can back up with personal stories from many of those with and for whom we work.
If, in reading this, you see something that sparks your interest or inspires an idea....
let’s talk! Hopefully, in a year from now, we can look back on progress we made
together after taking action today.
MATT UNGER
Chief Executive Officer | DMARC
Letter from the CEO
The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network consists of 14 brick
and mortar food pantries, numerous mobile food pantry locations, and a no-contact
home delivery program.
Through this network, DMARC operates a shared intake system and database. Food
pantry visitors are asked a series of 12-14 questions about their household to help us
understand the specific needs of the community.
All the data used in this report is from DMARC’s fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 - June 30,
2024) where our food pantry network saw a record level of individuals assisted.
WE ARE OFTEN ASKED...
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU ASSIST THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED?
38%
35%
8%
19%
81% are working, disabled, seniors, or children.
‘Typical’
visitor to a
food pantry
We are often asked....
what a “typical” visitor to a food pantry
looks like. In truth, We assist people of all
races, genders, ages, incomes, and
educational attainment. While the number
of individuals we are assisting now
continues to grow, the answer to this
questions remains largely the same.
Disparities in your backyard
Racial disparities among food pantry visitors exist in all communities across Greater Des
Moines and are growing, especially in suburban communities.
Click on a city to see a detailed breakdown of its demographics and disparities.
Racial disparities among food pantry visitors exist in all communities across
Greater Des Moines and are growing, especially in suburban communities.
- In some cities, certain racial groups are
more than ten times as likely to use a food
pantry compared with the general
population.
- The lasting impact of
disenfranchisement
- The federal Poverty line (FPL) for a household size of 1 is $15,060.
For a Household size of 4 individuals the FPL is $31,200. 95% of
food pantry visitors made less than 200% of the FPL.
- Nearly 3 out of 4 food pantry visitors
live below the federal poverty line.
OVERALL DEMOGRAPHICS
- The percent of white - not hispanic individuals decreased from 49% in FY23 to
39% in FY24 and this shift is even more dramatic amongst those utilizing a
pantry for the first time (32% new white - non-hispanic). However, the
distribution amongst race in all categories continues to mirror the overall
trends observed since the inception of this report in 2020.
Record numbers at food pantries, greater disparities
‘Typical’ visitor to a
food pantry
- A White - Not Hispanic woman
- who graduated high school,
- does not receive SNAP benefits,
- has at least one child,
- is living below the poverty line,
- ...and only visits a food pantry
- once per year.
While there is no such thing as a “typical” food pantry visitor, these are the demographic trends that are most common throughout.
- 40% of all pantry visitors are white - non-hispanic and 53% of visitors assisted are women.
- A White - Not Hispanic woman
- 57% of adults (25 and up) assisted highest level of educational attainment held is a HS degree, HS &
some college, HSED, or GED.
- who graduated high school
- 36% of all individuals assisted were enrolled in SNAP (formerly food stamps) at some point.
- does not receive SNAP benefits
- Over 1 in 3 people assisted by the DMARC Food Pantry Network are under the age of 18.
- has at least one child,
- Nearly 3 out of 4 food pantry visitors live below the federal poverty line.
- is living below the poverty line,
- 46.3% of all individuals assisted only utilized a food pantry 1-2 times/year.
- ...and only visits a food pantry once per year.
number of times visitors utilize
the pantry in a year
In FY24, 46.4% of all pantry visitors only utilized a pantry once or twice in a year.
Who is coming to a food pantry
this year for the first time?
Younger than all pantry visitors
Have a smaller household size
Are just as likely to be a man as a women
More likely to be hispanic
More likely to be living at/below the Federal Poverty Line
Less likely to utilize SNAP
Younger than all pantry visitors
50% of new visitors were under 25 compared to 45% overall.
Have a smaller household size
average household size - 2 people compared to 2.5 people overall.
- Are just as likely to be a man as a women
- 34% of new pantry visitors identify as hispanic compared to 25% overall..
- More likely to be hispanic,
- More likely to be living at/below the Federal Poverty Line,
- ...and are Less likely to utilize SNAP.
1 in 3 individuals utilizing the DMARC Food Pantry Network in FY24 had not
previously utilized a DMARC Food Pantry. While there is no such thing as a
“typical” new pantry visitor, these are the demographic trends that are
unique to new visitors this year compared to all food pantry visitors:
Who is the
‘typical person’
enrolled in SNAP?
In Polk County, there were 131,161 individuals from 62,353
households who were enrolled in SNAP at some point in FY24.
- Over half of them were children (44%) and seniors (7%)
- Women (56%) relied on SNAP more than men (44%)
- The average household size was 2.10
Number of months
SNAP usage vs. DMARC visits
4 months:
average household was enrolled
in SNAP.
3.9 visits:
average number of monthly visits
made by pantry visitors in a year.
RACIAL DISPARITIES BY CITY OF RESIDENCE
Des Moines
48,452
unique individuals assisted
DES MOINES
FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
GENERAL POPULATION
- That’s the equivalent of 22.9% of the total population of Des Moines.
- 9.6% of those assisted were new to the DMARC network in FY24.
- Compared with the general population, residents who used a food pantry were less
likely to identify as White - Not Hispanic or Multi-Race - Not Hispanic, and more likely
to identify as all other races and ethnicities.
ANKENY
3,705
unique individuals assisted
ANKENY
FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
GENERAL POPULATION
- The DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted the equivalent of 5.6% of the total population of Ankeny.
44.6% of those assisted were new to the DMARC network in FY24. Compared with the general
population, residents who used a food pantry were less likely to identify as white - hispanic, and
more likely to identify as white - non-hispanic ethnicities.
CLIVE
1,765
unique individuals assisted
9.6% of the total population of CLIVE.
CLIVE - FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
CLIVE - GENERAL POPULATION
The DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted the equivalent of 9.6% of the total population of CLIVE. 45% of
those assisted were new to the DMARC network in FY24.
Compared with the general population, residents who used a food pantry were less likely to identify as
Black/African American and White - Non-Hispanic, and more likely to identify as Other/Unknown -
Hispanic and White - Hispanic ethnicities.
JOHNSTON
1,485
unique individuals assisted
JOHNSTON
FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
JOHNSTON
GENERAL POPULATION
- The DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted the equivalent of 6% of the total
population of Johnston. - 29% of those assisted were new to the DMARC network in FY24.
- Compared with the general population, residents who used a food pantry
were less likely to identify Multi-Race - Hispanic and other/unknown -
hispanic, and more likely to identify as Black/African American ethnicities.
URBANDALE
3,412
unique individuals assisted
URBANDALE
FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
URBANDALE
GENERAL POPULATION
- The DMARC Food Pantry Network assisted the equivalent of 7.6% of the total
population of Urbandale - 30% of those assisted were new to the DMARC network in FY24.
- Compared with the general population, residents who used a food pantry were less
likely to identify Black/African American, and more likely to identify as Asian/Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
WEST DES MOINES
5,159
unique individuals assisted
WEST DES MOINES
FOOD PANTRY VISITORS
GENERAL POPULATION
- 7% of WEST DES MOINES Residents used a pantry in FY2024.
- 33% of WEST DES MOINES Residents utilizing a DMARC pantry in FY2024
were new this year. - Compared with the general population, residents who used a food pantry
were less likely to identify as Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and
more likely to identify as White - Hispanic.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS REPORT?
Contact us at info@dmarcunited.org
Des Moines Area Religious Council | dmarcunited.org | 515-266-6969