It appears that someone forgot to tell mother nature that it is December. It is challenging to get into the holiday spirit when it is in the 70’s. It’s also challenging to get into the holiday spirit if you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, or the more stressful “I don’t know how I will feed my kids” dilemma. I admit I cannot do anything about the weather but want to be quick to point out that our 135 partner agencies are there to help our neighbors in need feed their families. I would love to thank each and every one of those agencies personally, and that certainly will be one of my 2022 goals. Until that time, please allow me to publicly express my appreciation to the hundreds of volunteers at those partner agencies for all they do.

Speaking of thanking people individually, we have sent letters to every person who donates to the Food Bank. I don’t know the exact number but I know there have been in the thousands because I personally sign, well technically K-slash, each and every one of those letters. While it may sound mundane, it is the highlight of the day for me to say thanks to a donor. I love to read the notes those donors include and the stories they tell. So, once again thank you for supporting our mission.

I cannot tell you how many people in the last couple of weeks have mentioned to me that this must be a really busy time of the year for us. From a development side, it certainly is as more people donate during the fourth quarter. More companies have food drives. More individuals bring in donations of food and money. More people volunteer. So yes, this is a busy time of the year for us. But like a squirrel heading into winter, we store up these food drive riches in order to serve our partner agencies in the future. If you walked through our warehouse today you would think, “There is no way they will ever distribute all this food.” The fact of the matter is we only have between three and four WEEKS worth of supply of food on hand at any given time. We estimate we will distribute over 16 MILLION pounds of food this year. Based on that number of pounds moved in the course of the year, we turn our inventory between 12 and 13 times per year. From a client service side, we are busy year-round. A child’s hungry tummy doesn’t know if it is November or May so while there may be an uptick of need during the holidays and winter, food insecurity is present all year long.

In a few days it will be Christmas morning. As you hustle around making last minute preparations, buying last minute gifts and stressing over “dressing or stuffing” be mindful of those less fortunate. You can make a huge difference in someone’s life by sharing your time, your talent or your treasure. They are literally hundreds of great causes out there. Trying to decide who to support might be overwhelming. I encourage you to not let that decision add to your stress. Pick an agency whose mission you support and help them out. No matter which one you choose you will be helping make northwest Arkansas just a little better place to live. Isn’t that what we are all called to do?

This year we did a lot, but we could not have done any of it without your help. Whether you have donated cash, food, volunteered or simply talked about the need, you have played an integral role in our work this year. So, in closing, let me please say thank you and remind you that because of you someone will eat today.

Merry Christmas. May you and your family have blessed holiday season.

K

We were overwhelmed with the generosity of our community partners and supporters who hosted food drives for us during the month of November. We had corporations, organizations, families and individuals step up and help us feed those in need in our community. A special thanks to our friends at 40/29 TV for hosting their annual Turkey Drive on November 19th. What a great community we live in!

Dole Sunshine

Spectrum Brands

Clarios

Abbott

Unilever

General Mills

Keeco

Mondelez

Grifols

KraftHeinz

Newell Brands

Post Consumer Brands

CESCO

Shiloh

Kiljaro/Denovo

ConAgra

Ocean Spray

Nielsen

Danone

Transplace

HomeTeam Walmart

BKD

Central States

The Stable

KPMG

Clorox

Garver

With a population of just under 17 thousand people, staff of various Siloam Springs churches saw that food insecurity wasn’t something you just heard about happening in other places. It was a crisis happening in their own backyard. So, they acted on it and created a nonprofit organization called the Manna Center to help feed their hungry neighbors. The center opened its doors in 1993, and started on a smaller scale, handing out food a couple days a week, that has now blossomed into 5 days, feeding 15-20 families per day. “We feel like it’s what we’re supposed to do. It’s what God’s put on my heart is take the food to the people, and we’ve been doing it,” says Marla Sappington the director of the Manna Center.

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more people in the door at the Manna Center needing access to nutritious foods; some days seeing up to 150 families that come to them for help. “We can’t be judgmental, we don’t know what that person has been through or that family is going through so we just offer grace and help them with what all that we can,” says Sappington. With an influx in the number of clients, more hands-on deck are needed. Manna Center now has between 65-80 volunteers per month with 800+ hours put into the facility. “I can leave happily and I look forward to coming to work and my volunteers look forward to being here,” says Sappington. She also states the volunteers have become more than just coworkers, they’re family.

In the month of August, the center gave out 111,000 pounds of food throughout Northwest Arkansas and the cities they serve in Oklahoma. Sappington says what drives herself along with staff is knowing there is a need. Knowing people right next door don’t have access to nutritious foods, and they don’t plan on stopping here. They just established a partnership with Tyson that will provide them with frozen protein to pass out during their food pantries. “There’s a need out there and its hard for people to ask for food so we do these little special pops up give always where its open to everybody and they all get the same thing,” says Sappington.

The Manna Center has grown into more than just a place to find food. Staff has implemented a Thrift Store where anyone is welcome to shop. Whether it be clothing, toys, gas, school supplies, or even assisting with prescription drugs, they want to help. “Everybody has a part to play everyone is needed and we’ve all found a reason to do what we’re doing by the feeling we leave here with,” says Sappington.

Sappington says it’s become more than just a job. It’s what herself along with the staff have come to love, “We’ve always said we want them to leave better than they came. That includes our volunteers and our clients that we’re assisting,” says Sappington.

As staff at the Manna Center look to the future, they want to continue to grow, reaching out to as many people possible, that need a helping hand.

During the month of November, we were thrilled to have 155 individuals volunteer with us for a total of 701 hours. We love and appreciate each and every person that comes out and helps us in our warehouse, in our garden, or at one of our Mobile Pantries. We couldn’t do what we do without you! If you are interested in getting involved in our volunteer program, please visit www.nwafoodbank.org/volunteer . We have a variety of days and times available to fit your schedule.

Thank you for helping us feed those who are food insecure in our region.

Thank you to our friends at Great Southern Bank for dropping by with a donation to our organization! We appreciate you and will put this money to good use.

Thank you to our friends at City Title for this wonderful donation! This donation will provide up to 20,000 meals for our neighbors in need.