Imagine a world in which every person in Rogers is food insecure. Every man, woman and child is struggling to put a nutritious meal on the table. Hard to imagine isn’t it? But we live in that world every day. Yes, it’s true. In our service area, the equivalent of the entire population of Rogers is food insecure. But because these 67,000 +/- people are spread over the four counties of Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington, they may go unnoticed. It’s only by giving the number life in a visual manner such as this, do we realize the severity of the problem. Between one in seven and one in eight of our neighbors struggle daily to put food on the table. It’s important to note that these are not always the same people from month to month. Just as some families cycle out of food insecurity, something happens to another family and they take the place of the one who just got out. However, I’ve said it before. Because of your generous support of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank we are able to provide our 135 plus partner agencies with the food necessary to ease the burden of these neighbors. Because of you, someone will eat today.

Last month was Hunger Action Month, sometimes also referred to as Hunger Awareness Month. I am so thankful to all the businesses who held an event, hosted a food drive or volunteered to support our cause. Without your support we could not do what we do. I rarely do this- every supportive action is important to our success and I don’t want to minimize any action- but I do want to give a special shout out to two specific organizations who worked tirelessly to bring the message of food insecurity to Northwest Arkansas.

First, I want to express my deepest appreciation to my co-workers here at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Julie Damer, Director of Marketing for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, went above and beyond to encourage the staff here at the Food Bank. Julie created and implemented a Bingo game and other contests to engage the team members helping to remind each of us the mission behind our coming to work. It was a fun filled way to show our appreciation to team members who work diligently without regard to their own well being to make sure our neighbors have enough to eat.

All of our media partners are critical to our success and each month one of them steps up and helps us through production of commercials, news stories or by raising money from their readers. This past month, KNWA, an affiliate of NEXSTAR communications, joined the other NEXSTAR stations across the nation to promote Feeding America’s celebration of Hunger Awareness Month in their local markets. General Manager Lisa Kelsey and her team set the standard for other NEXSTAR affiliates to emulate, telling our story nearly every day; so much so that some of my friends accused me of moonlighting as a TV reporter. These are just two examples of the many acts of kindness we encountered during September.

I have one more special shout out. This time to a group of young people who gave up their Saturday morning to come pack boxes which will be distributed through our school pantry program. Last Saturday, while I was in Manhattan, Kansas watching the Oklahoma Sooners beat my K-State Wildcats (which is another story for another time) the Razorback Women’s Basketball team attacked packing boxes with the same intensity that they attack the basketball court. Coach Mike Neighbors is a great supporter of the Food Bank and really works hard to instill a sense of community in his team. Thank you, my friend, for all you do to make Northwest Arkansas a better place to live.

I invite each of you to take the time to attend a game or two. You will certainly be impressed by the effort and performance the team shows.

Woo Pig Sooie!

It’s hard to believe but 2021- Q4 is here. This year has been one of those unique years where one day it seems like the year is dragging and the next the days are flying by. Regardless, year end is just around the corner. Last year many people used the term unprecedented. I would say the same describes this year. I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of you who have supported us over this past year. Without your sharing of your time, talent and treasure we would not have been able to collect or purchase, then distribute almost exactly the same amount of food as last year, which was a record year by far. That tells me the need has not gone down, so as much as I hate to ask, as the year comes to a close, please consider helping us help those in need.

In closing, I would like to once more say that the battle against food insecurity is too large for one group to take on alone. We have to have your help. For that I am eternally grateful and proud to say “Because of you someone will eat today.”

K

Kent Eikenberry, President/CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank accepts a check representing a $5000.00 donation from the Chase Foundation Representing the Chase Foundation are Susan Chase and John Bakker.

The Chase Foundation supports food insecurity in older adults.

The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry was founded in 2011, making their 10-year anniversary this year.

It began when a student at the University of Arkansas named Julia noticed that students at dining halls were stuffing food into their backpacks later in the week because they weren't going to have enough meal swipes to feed them over the weekend.

She brought this to the attention of people on campus and the Center for Community Engagement at the University of Arkansas decided to start the Full Circle Food Pantry on campus. The first month they were open, they served about 12 clients. And now, ten years later, they are serving upwards of 100 each month.

Today, the Full Circle Food Pantry operates under a Registered Student Organization called the Volunteer Action Center (VAC) at the University of Arkansas. The VAC falls under the Center for Community Engagement.

Briana Roden, now a senior at the U of A, has been involved with the pantry since her freshman year. It began with her applying to be a volunteer, and now she is serving as the chair of the pantry.

“We are completely student-driven and student-run,” Briana said. “We have, I believe, three staff members that are in the Center for Community Engagement that technically advise all the students, but one of my advisors likes to joke that she gets paid to not tell her students how to run a food pantry.”

Briana said there are nine student board members, and seven of those are completely volunteer. Each board member overseas a different department of the pantry. One focuses on food drives. One deals with social media, and another deals with the Mobile Express, to name some examples.

Outside of the board members, there is a volunteer base of about 50 students each semester. It can fluctuate, based on applications and availability. Volunteers of the pantry take care of the garden when the weather permits, restock shelves, fill orders for clients, and other behind-the-scenes jobs. Those interested in volunteering fill out an application on the pantry's website listing their availability and explaining why they want to volunteer for the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry.

The pantry serves affiliates of the University of Arkansas or UAMS. Affiliates range from students and workers of the University and even to external cleaning organizations hired by fraternity and sorority houses, for example.

The pantry has allotted times during the week that clients can come pick up food, but they have recently also implemented locker rooms outside of the pantry that allow people to come outside of designated hours.

“There's a stigma around food insecurity and food pantries,” Briana said. “And so sometimes, you know, people may not want to be seen visiting a food pantry and our lockers provide that kind of just kind of privacy that they can come at any time to pick up that order.”

The February before COVID-19 hit, Brianna said the pantry was feeding about 700 to 800 household members per month. Between the March and August after COVID-19 hit, they were feeding between 1400 and 1500 household members per month, almost a 100% increase. Currently, they are serving about 500 household members per month, but Briana said when students return for the school year she thinks that number will get closer to about 800.

While originally the pantry offered client choice via a form the clients filled out, because of COVID-19 the pantry switched to making fast bags that have a little bit of everything. Now, however, they're trying to bring back some of the client choice by setting up outdoors and providing a whiteboard with extras such as fresh produce that clients can ask for. On slower days, clients are also welcome to come inside to wait for their order.

People interested in making donations can leave them in the white bin outside of the pantry building. Briana said they receive individual donations, but often get group donations from clubs and organizations on campus, local churches and organizations, or fraternities and sororities on campus. The pantry just asks that larger donations are not made on Wednesdays, because that is the day fresh produce is delivered and they often have long lines of people waiting to pick up food before they even open.

They deliver their mobile deliveries on Tuesdays and Fridays and fill locker orders on whatever day they're placed for. They ask that clients come no more than twice a week since with every order they provide a three-day supply of food. If a non-affiliate of the University of Arkansas or UAMS comes to the pantry, Briana said they will give them food that time, but direct them to a food pantry or organization that can serve their needs.

The pantry is open on Mondays from 11am to 3pm, Wednesdays from 3pm to 6pm, and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm during the school year, starting on August 23rd. They are located at 324 Stadium Drive (WAHR C204).

*ALL PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE FULL CIRCLE FOOD PANTRY FACEBOOK PAGE*

During the month of September, we were thrilled to have 78 individuals volunteer with us for a total of 353 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.

The Razorback Women’s Basketball team traded in their jerseys for a volunteer name tag on a recent Saturday and donated their time to help those who are food insecure in Northwest Arkansas by packing food boxes. In true Razorback style, they beat the record for most food boxes created during a volunteer shift, nearly doubling the former record, by packing 720 boxes that will provide more than 4,900 meals to neighbors in our communities. The team ended the volunteer shift with a quick huddle, chanting family on me, family on 3. One, two, three and in unison they all said family. You could feel their excitement to help out their community. We are so appreciative for their support and when they want to beat that 720 box record, we’ll be ready!

These two super volunteers are such a blessing to our organization and those we serve. To honor their commitment to helping others, they were recently recognized as our 2021 Hunger Hero Award winners. This honor and award is normally presented at our annual Jewels of Giving Gala, which has to be cancelled this year. We did, however, throw a small surprise party in their honor to present them with their awards and celebrate them.

We are so thankful for their service and for choosing the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to donate their time and smiles to.

PLEASE VISIT ONE OF THESE PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS TO DONATE

Gentry, AR 300 S. Gentry Blvd.

Siloam Springs, AR 201 Hwy 412

Elkins, AR 1951 N. Center St.

Rogers, AR 715 N. 2nd Street

Springdale, AR 2894 West Sunset

Springdale, AR 1308 N. Thompson

Springdale, AR 1945 Butterfield Coach Road

Centerton, AR 710 W. Centerton Blvd

Springdale, AR 1007 Jones Road

Fayetteville, AR 1189 N. Garland

Fayetteville, AR 1780 N. Crossover Road

Fayetteville, AR 3055 N. College

Fayetteville, AR 1274 Colorado Drive

Prairie Grove, AR 319 E. Buchanan St.

West Fork, AR 266 Three Dog Lane

Bentonville, AR 1209 N. Walton Blvd

Huntsville, AR 115 Lee St.

Bella Vista, AR 404 Town Center NE

Lincoln, AR 310 W. Pridemore

Gravette, AR 800 1st Ave SE

Lowell, AR 916 W. Monroe Ave.

We have some exciting things happening in our garden this Fall that will help extend our growing season. A new caterpillar tunnel has been installed at the Teaching Garden at our Springdale location. It traps heat, like a greenhouse, allowing us to grow on the "shoulders" of the normal growing season. With it, we will be able to grow things like kale, spinach, and Swiss chard all winter long. And, we will be able to start summer crops, like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers earlier in the spring.

The staff of Cobblestone Farm in Fayetteville (Kelton - Executive Director, Josh - Produce Manager, and Ellen - Assistant Produce Manager) donated their time to help build it.

The tunnel itself was paid for by an anonymous donor.