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 standpoint, 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 supply of food on hand at any given time. We estimate we will distribute nearly 14 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.

14 million is slightly down from 2021 numbers, mostly because of a decrease in Federal TEFAP foods.

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. There 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?

The flu bug has hit the Food Bank. We have several staff members out with serious flu symptoms. We have requested they stay home until they have a 24 hour period without fever, without the aid of medications. Please do your part to keep your friends and coworkers healthy by doing the same.

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. In closing, let me please say thank you and remind you that because of you someone will eat today.

Please have a blessed and Merry Christmas.

K

Al, a Springdale neighbor, walks alongside Mary Ann, a volunteer with Feed the 479, as she pushes a cart through the aisles of the food pantry.

As they turn the corner into the baked goods section, Al spots a sweet potato pie on a shelf. “It’s perfect for this season,” he says with a smile as he places it in the basket.

Al fills his cart with things that he enjoys and can make the most of, including garlic bread and canned vegetables.

A few moments later in the freezer section, he picks up hamburger meat and grabs lettuce at the last station to make burgers for dinner.

Unlike the limitations of a prepacked box of food, the options made possible in a client-choice pantry mean Al can actively plan his meals while picking up items.

Al regularly visits Feed the 479 to help support his three family members who have limited incomes. He counts the pantry as one of his many blessings.

“I do pray for this place to help people down on their luck,” he says. “The Lord blesses this and everything happens for a reason.”

As a ministry of Cross Church, Feed the 479 supports anyone in need of food. They partner with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to host mobile pantries on the 3rd Friday of each month at Cross Church Fayetteville and the 4th Friday of each month at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Feed the 479 is located at 3157 W. Sunset Avenue in Springdale and is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

On Friday, November 18, 40/29 (KHBS/KHOG) and The Arkansas CW encouraged Northwest Arkansas and River Valley residents to help feed our neighbors in need by donating to the 10th annual Turkey Drive. 40/29, The Arkansas CW and our turkey drive partners collected turkeys at area Walmart Super Centers and Neighborhood Markets. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank staff was at one of the locations all day to help with the drive and personally thank the public for their support. For every Butterball turkey you gave, your donation was matched, up to a total of 1,000 Butterball turkeys. Knorr also donated 10,000 bags of Knorr sides to supplement holiday meals for the hungry in our region. The drive resulted in 3,925 turkeys being donated to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the River Valley Food Bank.

“For nine years our stations have been honored to help collect over 36,000 turkeys to fight hunger,” said 40/29 and The Arkansas CW President and General Manager, Bruce Barkley.

Arkansas CW’s Turkey Drive is a community outreach initiative developed with the support of Walmart, The River Valley Regional Food Bank, The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, their agencies, food pantries and supported by Butterball and Knorr.

*From left: Tom Hauge, Dan Clous, Kent Eikenberry, Bill Adams, Collin Adams

Members of the Ale-Truism board of directors and Kent Eikenberry, hoist a glass to celebrate Octoberfest, a third-party fundraising event for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank held at GOAT LAB Brewery in Lowell on October 8.