Meet Our Staff
Executive Director
Sarai Schnucker Rice
Sarai Schnucker Rice is a graduate of Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman University) and Yale Divinity School. Prior to beginning her work with DMARC, Rev. Rice served as an Interim Presbytery Executive for the Presbyteries of the Twin Cities Area and North Central Iowa. She has also taught at Memphis Theological Seminary (Cumberland Presbyterian) in Memphis, Tennessee, served as a co-pastor at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Ames, IA, and was the Executive Director of Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa. Rev. Rice lives in Des Moines with her husband, Ron, and has two sons, Christjahn and Daniel.
Emergency Food Pantry Director
Elisabeth Ballstadt
Elisabeth Ballstadt was the creative services director for KDSM FOX 17, Simply Michele, Inc., and a television and film freelancer before joining the DMARC team. As a minister’s daughter, she grew up doing service projects and mission work and is thrilled to introduce it into her everyday. Elisabeth has trouble sitting still, a passion for cooking and repurposing, and spends her free time volunteering on many non-profit benefits and events as well as at the many Des Moines area theater companies. She lives in Des Moines with her husband, Travis, and two children, Isabell and Wilco.
Communications Specialist / Office Manager
Matthew Phelps
Matthew grew up in Carlisle, Iowa. He attended Grinnell College and graduated with a degree in classical languages. He then lived for a year at a Benedictine monastery. Before coming to DMARC, he worked at a radio station in Des Moines. Matthew now lives in West Des Moines and is an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Development Director
Kristine Frakes
Kristine is an Iowa native who grew up near Lake Rathbun and the Missouri border. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Grand View College. She earned the distinction of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2000. Having previously worked in the public sector at the local and federal levels, for the past fourteen years she has focused her efforts on results-based resource development strategies to help central Iowa nonprofit organizations increase, manage and maximize limited resources while minimizing their vulnerabilities. Kristine and her husband Tim live in rural Polk County and have two children, Alexandra and Adam.
Financial Secretary
Laura DeLong
After living in several places around the country, Laura came to Des Moines for three to five years, and that was 29 years ago! Des Moines turns out to be a very good place to “get stuck..” She is a member of Ashworth Road Baptist Church where she is active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. When the holiday season approaches, she enjoys lending an extra pair of hands in production at Chocolaterie Stam. She has sung in various community choirs for 20 years, and enjoys garment sewing. Laura produces the newsletter for the Central Iowa chapter of the American Sewing Guild. Laura is particularly thankful for the opportunity to help support DMARC’s interfaith work.
Red Barrel Coordinator
Cindy Morton
Cindy Morton is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has been a resident of Des Moines for 34 years. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Mount Mercy College and served in state government for 35 years, 24 of which were with the Department of Revenue as Administrator of the Internal Services Division, overseeing budget and accounting, human resources, training, facilities management, strategic planning, performance measurement and working as a liaision for enterprise initiatives. Cindy retired from the state in March of 2008 and began employment with DMARC as the Red Barrel Coordinator in April. Cindy is a member of the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines.
Project Connect
Mary Beth Williams
Mary Beth is a Des Moines native. She attended elementary school in Northern California and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Iowa State University in Family Environment. She lived in Boston, Massachusetts from 1981-1989 where she worked for The Christian Science Monitor and The Mother Church, the worldwide headquarters of The First Church of Christ, Scientist. During 2003, Mary Beth volunteered with Iowa Homeless Youth Center and worked with homeless youth on Friday nights at Reggie’s Place. Mary Beth has an 11-year old and is the proud owner of Angel, a 4 year old Samoyed. Mary Beth loves living in Iowa because of the simplicity and openness here.