The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank has developed a 2025 strategic plan establishing two major goals.

Firstly, the Food Bank and its partner agencies will increase distribution to 11 million meals by 2025. Currently, distribution is 6.7 million meals annually. The Food Bank will identify opportunities to increase the amount of food received while working across its network of partner agencies to increase distribution capacity.

Secondly, 75 percent of the foods the Food Bank distributes will be nutritious foods such as protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The staff recognizes that simply providing more food is not enough; increased focus on the nutritional quality of the food provided will ensure clients are able to make healthier food choices. Priority will be placed on sourcing fresh produce, fresh and frozen protein, low sodium/low sugar canned goods and whole grains.

“I think this strategy shows the staff and the board of directors are committed to have an end in sight in the battle to end food insecurity,” said Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO of the Food Bank. “We’re going to take the steps necessary to have enough food on hand so that everyone who has a need for food has the opportunity to get it.

“Equally, we see our role evolving where we need to be more cognizant to have nutritious foods, including fresh foods and vegetables, which is something we haven’t done in the past,” he said.

The office of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has made a $750,000 grant available to six food banks to help facilitate this vision, and make more fresh fruits and vegetables available for those with food insecurities, he said.

The Northwest Food Bank will have the opportunity to match $31,000 a year for the next four years.

The Food Bank will be working closely with UAMS to establish a nutrition policy, Eikenberry said. The Food Bank will be using Feeding America’s Foods to Encourage guidelines, as well.

Director of Client Services Casey Cowan and her team will take the lead by working with 5 pantry locations to roll out the program in 2019 and then move out to other pantries, he said.

“I am very excited to begin writing our nutrition policy here at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank,” said Cowan. “With help from staff members, community partners, donors and partner agencies, I hope to build the foundation for a nutritional strategy that will shape how we not only purchase, source and distribute food, but will guide us as we educate our staff, our partner agencies, and food insecure clients.”

“I believe writing a nutrition policy is the next step to helping us achieve our goal of distributing 75 percent or more protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.”

There are currently more than 63,000 people who are food insecure in Northwest Arkansas.