I just watched the Governor’s daily press conference. Collectively, as a state, we have done a good job controlling the spread of COVID-19. But Governor Hutchinson was quick to point out we are far from an end to the pandemic. Like the rest of the state we are taking some action to try to return to normal operations at the food bank. Here are two big ones.

Beginning June 1, we will begin accepting volunteers back in to the warehouse. Now before you all come rushing down here to help us out, please take time to read the procedures and restrictions elsewhere in this email. Within the next few weeks, our client services team will resume on-boarding agencies on to our Oasis software. The data we have received from Oasis has been critical in our approach to serving our clients during the past few weeks. On-boarding more agencies will only allow us more detailed data to help us make more informed decisions. It is important to note that each of these steps are being taken while focusing on the safety of our staff and volunteers. I will not hesitate to suspend either of these should the spread of COVID 19 deem it necessary.

Thank you all for what you are doing to help control the spread of the disease. Please maintain social distancing, wear a mask when appropriate, wash your hands frequently and above all, please get tested should you show any of the symptoms.

- Kent Eikenberry

Spectrum Brands recently donated 600 bottles of new Cutter® brand hand sanitizer to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank for distribution to their partner agencies. “Our agencies are open, serving the public,” said Kent Eikenberry, President/CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. “This donation of hand sanitizer will help keep the volunteers at those agencies safe and healthy allowing them to continue to feed the hungry. Thank you, Spectrum Brands, for this generous donation of much needed product.”

The company’s manufacturing facility in Virginia, that normally produces liquid line products, was converted over in two weeks to make the hand sanitizing products to support the company’s facilities, US employees, and several organizations in communities where the company operates, including Northwest Arkansas.

Our new pop-up pantries will be continuing into the month of June, with the first one for June scheduled for the 9th. We have seen large numbers at the ones we have hosted so far, and expect that numbers will continue to be high for the month of June as well.

Every dollar you donate can provide up to 10 meals for those in need in the Northwest Arkansas region. Won’t you consider donating today? You can make a one-time donation by visiting our Donate page.

Jessica is a single mom with three young children, ages 8, 3 and 1. She and her children were recently homeless right after her last child was born. She is not currently working and has no childcare. A friend told her about the pantry, Rogers First Food Pantry, one of our 160-plus partner agencies.

“I don’t know what we would do without this help,” said Jessica. “It got so bad I had to cook on a campfire and we did without food when the shelters were full.”

Jessica does receive SNAP benefits and looks forward to finding reasonable childcare so she can hopefully find full time work in a local factory. She said her kids absolutely love the fruit and juices they can get from the pantry – items that would not be possible to purchase on her own.

“Keep doing what you are doing,” she said crying. “You help a lot.”

If you know someone who could benefit from our services, please refer them to our website to find a full listing of our mobile pantry schedule under the FIND FOOD tab.

In an effort to continue to provide food to those in need during this COVID-19 crisis and continue the free school pantry program at Monitor Elementary School in Springdale during the coming months, Bank of America has awarded the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank with a $45,000 grant. This contribution designates $10,000 for the school pantry program at Monitor Elementary and $35,000 for COVID-19 relief.